Psychological and Behavioral Factors Involved in Temporomandibular Myalgia and Migraine: Common but Differentiated Profiles

Abstract

Background: Many studies have revealed high comorbidity and a clear association between temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and migraine. Furthermore, evidence points out that common psychological and behavioral factors might be related to the observed TMD and migraine association. However, this association and the underlying psychological factors are poorly understood. Objective: The main goal of this study was to describe the psychological and behavioral factors involved in TMD myalgia and migraine. Methods: A sample of 142 participants were recruited to form 4 groups: migraine patients (ICHD-III criteria), painful-TMD patients (Myalgia DC/TMD criteria), patients suffering from both pathologies according to the same criteria, and control patients. After a dental and neurological examination, the patients filled several psychological questionnaires validated for the Spanish population to assess anxiety (STAI), depression (DEP), stress coping (CRI), and somatic, anxiety, and depression symptoms (BSI-18). Results: The TMD myalgia patients, in general, showed a state of elevated anxiety, somatization, and reduced coping strategies, while the patients with migraine presented greater anxiety symptoms, depression (dysthymia trait and state), and somatization. Conclusions: According to the data of the present study, situational anxiety (transient emotional state), together with the lack of coping strategies, could be more associated with TMD myalgia, while anxiety, as a more stable and long-lasting emotional state, together with depression, might be more related to migraine. Further longitudinal studies are needed to unravel whether these differentiated profiles are a consequence or possible risk factors for migraine and TMD.

Evaluation of Plasma Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide as a Biomarker for Painful Temporomandibular Disorder and Migraine

“…One recent research, utilizing the same factorial design as our study, found elevated anxiety and somatization in TMD patients and greater anxiety, depression, and somatization in migraineurs. 43 Our results are in full agreement with these findings, as we also observed an across-group gradient (HC < TMD < MIG < TMD+MIG) of increasing estimates for all four psychological factors assessed. Additionally, our analysis also showed a more pronounced association of anxiety, depression, stress, and somatization with migraine than with painful TMD.…”

“…One recent research, utilizing the same factorial design as our study, found elevated anxiety and somatization in TMD patients and greater anxiety, depression, and somatization in migraineurs. 43 Our results are in full agreement with these findings, as we also observed an across-group gradient (HC < TMD < MIG < TMD+MIG) of…”

Presence of Differences in the Radiofrequency Parameters Applied to Complex Pressure Ulcers: A Secondary Analysis

“…Additionally important is the absence of a control group or a placebo group to compare with the evolution of the process or with other interventions. The authors also recognize as a limitation the fact that they did not measure the psychological and behavioral factors of the sample analyzed in the study, which is observed as a determinant in different chronic diseases [ 24 , 25 ]. Although there is an inherent bias in the type of research model, this has been minimized by using relevant and reliable human (accredited clinical experience of the researchers) and instrumental resources.…”

Clinical aspects of mastication myalgia—an overview

“…These factors can be biological, behavioral, psychosocial, but also previous chronic pain conditions and trauma are important risk factors. It has been suggested that one of the most important factors to develop TMD is other somatic symptoms ( 27 ). For instance, patients with fibromyalgia have a higher prevalence of TMD symptoms ( 28 ).…”