The Relationships Among Depression, Pain, and Masticatory Functioning in Temporomandibular Disorder Patients

Aims: To evaluate the effect of comorbid depression and pain on an early biopsychosocial intervention for acute temporomandibular disorder (TMD) patients. Methods: Depressed (either current or lifetime; n = 32) or nondepressed (n = 31) acute TMD patients received a biopsychosocial intervention, and were evaluated at preintervention and again 12 months postintervention by Characteristic Pain Intensity, the Beck Depression Inventory, and a masticatory function test. Results: Findings revealed that both depressed and nondepressed patients reported comparable pain decreases at 12 months postintervention. Moreover, there were no significant differences between patient groups in masticatory function. Conclusion: With appropriate early biopsychosocial intervention, acute TMD patients, regardless of the presence or absence of vulnerability to depression symptomatology, can be effectively treated. Keywords: biopsychosocial, depression, intervention, masticatory function, pain, temporomandibular disorders