Randomized trial identifies distinct sleep phenotypes and their psychological characteristics in TMD, suggesting targeted interventions.
Introduction Chronic orofacial pain, including temporomandibular disorders (TMD), is influenced by sleep disturbance and psychological distress, both of which contribute to pain vulnerability and maintenance. However, subjective sleep patterns are heterogeneous, and the psychological characteristics associated with distinct sleep profiles remain unclear. Identifying these phenotypes may clarify biopsychosocial mechanisms relevant to chronic pain. Methods Eighty-four adults (TMD pain and controls) completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), SCL-90-R subscales, PANAS, Brief Vulnerability Scale, and STAI-T. PSQI components were entered into a principal component analysis followed by hierarchical clustering (Ward’s method). A three-cluster solution emerged; Cluster 2 (n=4) was excluded due to minimal sample size. Analyses focused on Cluster 1 (Multidomain Sleep Disturbance Profile; n=38) and Cluster 3 (Low-Disturbance Sleep Profile; n=42). Sleep differences were examined using ANOVAs. A MANOVA tested overall psychological differences, followed by univariate ANOVAs with Bonferroni correction. Results Cluster membership differed significantly by TMD pain status (χ²(1)=8.77, p=0.003), with more pain participants in Cluster 1. The MANOVA was significant (Pillai’s Trace=0.39, F(17,62)=2.65, p=0.004), indicating a distinct multivariate psychological profile. Follow-up ANOVAs showed that Cluster 1 demonstrated higher somatization, obsessive–compulsive symptoms, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety, hostility, negative affect, and global distress after Bonferroni correction. Cluster 3 demonstrated the lowest overall symptom burden. Participants in the Multidomain Sleep Disturbance Profile exhibited greater psychological distress and were more likely to report TMD pain, whereas individuals in the Low-Disturbance Sleep Profile reported fewer symptoms and demonstrated a more resilient psychological pattern. Conclusion Poorer sleep quality was associated with elevated psychological symptoms and greater likelihood of TMD pain, whereas good sleepers exhibited fewer symptoms and markers of resilience. These findings highlight meaningful sleep–psychological phenotypes that may inform mechanisms of vulnerability and resilience in TMJ-related pain. Understanding distinct sleep profiles may support more targeted approaches to assessment and intervention in chronic orofacial pain. Support (if any)
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Goicolea et al. (2026) studied this question.
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