Post-traumatic stress disorder among Temporomandibular disorder patients: Impact of prevalence and biopsychosocial profile

OBJECTIVE: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) frequently co-occurs with chronic pain. This study assessed PTSD prevalence and associated clinical features in TMD patients according to (International Association for the Study of Pain) IASP chronic pain criteria. METHODS: A total of 156 TMD patients were assessed using the Diagnostic Criteria for TMD (DC/TMD). PTSD was evaluated using the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). RESULTS: Overall, 20.5% of TMD patients met criteria for PTSD. Compared with those without PTSD, affected individuals had lower income, higher prevalence of headache attributed to TMD and myofascial pain with referral, elevated Axis II scores, and poorer sleep quality (p < .001). Using IASP criteria, PTSD prevalence increased from 6.1% in acute to 48.2% in chronic painful TMD (p < .001). . CONCLUSIONS: TMD patients with PTSD exhibit a distinct clinical and psychosocial profile, potentially associated with PTSD-related fear-avoidance behaviors and hyperarousal. Application of IASP criteria revealed markedly elevated PTSD prevalence.