Somatisation and Dissociation:

Abstract

Objective. To assess the frequency of somatisation/dissociation in bruxers and temporomandibular disorders patients, to evaluate the frequencies of somatization and dissociation and to correlates with bruxism Method. We evaluated the the questionnaires for TMDs/ bruxism, clinical examination, the Rief and Hiller´s questionnaire, and the Bernstein and Putnam´s instrument in 137 bruxers (123 fe­male, mean age 35.3) and 31 controls (20 female, mean age 34.9) Sign and symptoms of joint noises, facial or temporomandibular joint pain, tenderness to palpation, difficulties to perform jaw movements, and joint noises were evaluated. Results. Mean scores in bruxism, soma­tisation and dissociation in bruxers /TMDs were 11.8, 9.6 and 16.3, and 2,6, 4,8 and 10,4 in the controls. Somatisation and dissociation scores in TMDs and controls were about 9,6 and 16,3 (p=0.0001) and 4,8 and 10,4 (p<0.0001). Scores in somatisation (6,2, 9,6, 10,7, and 11,8; p<0.0001) and dissociation (10,6, 16,4, 15,2, and 27.1; p<0.0001) increased with severer bruxism). Bruxism, Somatisation, and dissociation were positively correlated. The frequency of disso­ciation was about 16,8. Conclusions. Somatization and dissociation scores in TMD individuals were higher as compared to control ones. The frequencies of somatisation and dissociation increased more se­vere bruxism, and were positive correlated.