Bruxism as mechanism subserving hysteria

Abstract

Objective. To explore the hypothesis that bruxism is a mechanism in hysteria by comparing features in hysteria, bruxism, hostility, and local complaints in bruxers. Method. We evaluated 33 patients with mild bruxism, 52 with moderate, 55 with severe, and 42 with extreme bruxism with the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Index and the Cook-Medley scale for hostility. Results. Scores of hysteria and hostility increased from the mild to the moderate, severe, and extreme bruxism subgroup (p<0.0001). Mean local complaints increased with the severity of bruxism and with scores of hysteria (p><0.0001). The group that presented higher scores in both hysteria and hostility and greater local complaints as compared to two groups, low hysteria and high hostility, and low hysteria and hostility (p><0.003). Conclusion. Scores in hysteria e hostility increased with the severity of bruxism, and the number of local complaints increased with scores in hysteria and severe bruxism, suggesting that bruxism may be a hysterical mechanism in temporomandibular disorders/bruxing behavior patients>