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Co–Morbid Psychiatric Disorders Nigerian Patients Suffering Temporomandibular Joint Pain And Dysfunction


BDO Saheeb
AN Otakpor

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of psychiatric morbidity among Nigeria patients with temporomandibular joint pain and dysfunction (facial arthromyalgia), to delineate the specific types of co-morbid psychiatric disorders and identify the socio–demographic characteristics of the patients with psychiatric disorders.

Design: A two–stage design was adopted to study the prevalence and type of co–morbid psychiatric disorders of identified 24 patients with temporomandidbular joint pain and dysfunction over a period of 5 years.

Setting: Pain and Psychiatric clinics of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital Benin City, Nigeria.

Methods: The patients were controlled for age gender, and marital status. The State–Trait Anxiety Inventory, 28–item General Health Questionnaires and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scales were used for first stage screening while the second stage interview utilised the Psychiatric Assessment Schedule.

Results: The prevalence of psychotic morbidity was 37.5 % and 12.5% in the study and control groups respectively. Generalised anxiety disorder and dysthmia were the main forms of psychiatric disorders identified. Temporomandibular joint pain and dysfunction patients with co–morbid psychiatric disorders were significantly older (p<0.0001) had the illness for shorter periods before presentation (p<0.001) and were non-professionals.

Conclusion: The findings highlight the need for multi- disciplinary approach to the assessment and management of patients with temporomandibular joint pain and dysfunction.

Key Words: Co: morbid, psychiatric. disorders, temporomandibular joint , pain dysfunction


Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice Vol 8(1) 2005: 23-28

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eISSN: 2229-7731
print ISSN: 1119-3077