No abstract

The aim of the present investigation is to test the null hypothesis that the presence of psychopathology in patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) is related to the presence of pain, independent of its location [(i.e. myofascial and/or temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain]. Ninety-six (n = 96) patients affected by painful TMD underwent a clinical assessment in accordance with the research diagnostic criteria for TMD (RDC/TMD) guidelines and filled out the Symptoms Check List - Revised (SCL-90-R) instrument to investigate the presence of symptoms of psychopathology. Patients with myofascial pain, alone or combined with TMJ pain, endorsed the highest scores in all SCL-90-R scales and showed the highest percentage of abnormal values in the depression (DEP) and somatization (SOM) scales for the assessment of depressive and somatization symptoms. Nonetheless, anova revealed no significant differences between groups in any of the SCL-90-R scales, except than in the Positive Symptom Total Index (F = 3.463; P = 0.035), and the chi-squared test did not detect any significant differences between groups for the prevalence of abnormal scores in the DEP and SOM scales. The existence of a close association between pain and psychosocial disorders in TMD patients was supported by the present study. The null hypothesis is that no differences exist between patients with different painful TMD cannot be fully accepted for the presence of psychosocial disorders because of the trend evidencing higher SCL-90-R scores for myofascial pain patients, alone or combined with TMJ pain, with respect to TMJ pain alone.

The suicide rate found in this facility sample is much higher than the rate reported by the Italian National Statistic Institute for the over-65-year-old population of the Veneto Region in 2001, and is similar to the rate reported in a previous study conducted in another country. In Veneto NHs behavioural control of residents, lack of access to a variety of means used for suicidal purposes and medical supervision does not seem to have protected the NH population from suicidal risks.

The Hamilton Rating Scale for depression (HDRS) has become the standard observer rating scale for depression, yet there are no adequate data from normal samples. The present study was carried out in northern Italy. The purposes were 1) to examine the ratings in normals and 2) to examine the scale's validity in the different language and culture. The scale was used in 40 normals and 40 depressives who were matched. Two self-rating scales of depression were administered: the Symptom Rating Test and the Symptom Questionnaire. The results show that the HDRS is a valid measure in that it sensitively discriminates between depressed patients and normals. The findings support Hamilton's view that only the first 17 items of the scale are appropriate for computing the score. The use of self-rating scales yielded additional information. The misclassification rate of the Symptom Rating Test was similar to that of the HDRS. The combined use of Research Diagnostic Criteria (RDC) and HDRS appears to be more reliable for the selection of depressed patients for research than the RDC only.