The influence of war stress on the prevalence of signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorders

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorders in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) occurring as a consequence of exposure to war stress. The examined group consisted of 100 male subjects, aged from 25 to 50 years, who had taken part in the War in Croatia, and in whom PTSD had previously been diagnosed. The control group comprised 100 subjects, without PTSD, of the same sex and age group, who had not taken part in the War. A functional evaluation of the stomatognathic system was performed using the Helkimo Anamnestic and Clinical Dysfunction Index. Eighty-two per cent of the group with PTSD had at least one symptom, and 98% at least one sign of dysfunction. Eight per cent reported mild symptoms and 74% severe symptoms. Twenty-eight per cent showed mild clinical signs, 22% had signs of moderate, and 48% of severe dysfunction. Twenty-four per cent of the control group of subjects had at least one symptom, and 52% at least one clinical sign of dysfunction. Twenty-two per cent reported mild and 2% severe symptoms. Mild clinical signs of dysfunction were found in 50% of subjects in the control group, moderate in 2% and none exhibited severe clinical signs. It is concluded that correlation exists between war stress and temporomandibular disorders.

Temporomandibular joint health status in war veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder

“…[1718] These results are agreement with the present study showed that TMJD as a common symptom of TMDs is more prevalent in war veterans’ patients with PTSD.…”

“…(2003)[18] showed that 82% of the subjects with PTSD had symptoms of dysfunction compared with 24% of the subjects in the healthy control group. This was less than present study with 36.7% of the patients with PTSD compared with 13.3 to 40% of the subjects in the healthy control groups.…”

“…Uhac et al . (2003)[18] showed that correlation exists between war stress and temporomandibular disorders. Limited function, sounds, and pain in the TMJ are common symptoms of TMDs.…”

Factores asociados a los trastornos temporomandibulares en adultos de Cuenca, Ecuador

“…Varios estudios a nivel mundial determinaron que la prevalencia del estrés tiene un porcentaje que va desde el 23,3% al 82% tanto en hombres y mujeres (12)(13)(14). Apostolo et al, en el 2006 realizaron un estudio descriptivo en 192 sujetos analizando el índice DASS 21 con una prevalencia del 50% principalmente en mujeres(15), datos que revelan una correlación directa con la muestra obtenida.…”

Borrelia burgdorferi – A potentially aetiological factor in TMJ disorders? Preliminary report

“…A majority of conceptions thus far point to malocclusion or stressborne dysfunction of the masticatory muscles as representing the onset of TMJ pathology (Laskin, 1993;Le Resche, 1997;Ahlberg et al, 2002;Uhac et al, 2003). More recent conceptions accept that micro-or macroinjuries, which affect the joint directly or indirectly, are the predominant aetiological factors in TMJ disorders.…”