The effect of psychological therapies on treatment efficacy of temporo-mandibular disorders

Abstract

Temporomandibular disorders are characterized by high prevalence and difficulty in diagnosis and treatment. Along with organic disorders, psychological factors play an important role in the development and progression of these diseases. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the impact of psychotherapy on the oral health-related quality of life, pain intensity, and treatment completion in patients with temporomandibular disorders. A total of 53 patients (aged 49.0±10.1) with temporomandibular disorders and moderate to high anxiety level participated in this non-randomized clinical study. Patients who agreed to undergo psychotherapy were included in the study group (n=36), while the others were included in the comparison group (n=17). The group with psychotherapy showed a significantly greater decrease in reactive anxiety, pain intensity, and a significantly greater improvement in oral health-related quality of life (total score and scores for physical pain, psychological discomfort, and psycholodical limitation) compared with the group without psychological treatment. The complex treatment including dental treatment and psychotherapy in patients with temporomandibular disorders and anxiety provided higher treatment success than dental treatment alone. In the psychotherapy group, 83% of patients completed treatment fully (11%) or partially (72%), while 59%of patients in the comparison group dropped out before significant improvement was achieved.