Aims: To investigate the prevalence of sleep disturbance and psychologic distress in a population of Chinese patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and whether sleep disturbance and psychologic distress are risk indicators for TMD. Methods: Validated Chinese versions of the Self-Rating Scale of Sleep (SRSS) and Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21) were used to measure sleep disturbance and psychologic distress of 510 TMD patients with a mean (± SD) age of 31.06 ± 14.40 years. TMD signs/symptoms and sociodemographic data were also collected. The patients were divided into seven diagnostic groups based on the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD). For statistical analysis, the patients were subsequently grouped into those with (n = 128) and without (n = 382) myofascial pain. The data were analyzed using chi-square tests, independent-samples t test, as well as stepwise logistic regression at a significance level of P .05. Results: The prevalence of moderate to severe sleep disturbance and psychologic distress was significantly higher in the myofascial pain group than in the non-myofascial pain group (P .05). Stepwise logistic regression analysis demonstrated that sleep disturbance and anxiety were possible risk indicators for myofascial pain, with odds ratios of 2.41 and 4.10, respectively (P .05). Conclusion: The Chinese population of TMD patients frequently reported a disturbed sleep condition and psychologic distress symptoms. Sleep disturbance and psychologic distress symptoms are possible risk indicators for myofascial pain in this population. Keywords: myofascial pain, psychologic distress, risk indicator, sleep disturbance, temporomandibular disorders