Temporomandibular disorders and autonomic dysfunction: Exploring the possible link between the two using a questionnaire survey

ABSTRACT

Objective

To assess autonomic function and investigate factors related to its dysfunction in patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) from a biopsychosocial perspective.

Methods

Seventy-six patients with TMD were investigated by clinical examination and questionnaires concerning biopsychosocial aspects (The Brief Pain Inventory, the Pain Catastrophizing Scale, and the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised) and autonomic dysfunction (The COMPASS 31).

Results

Seventy-one patients were included in the study. The result of multiple regression analysis showed that four variables (sex, depression, age, and pain interference) were significantly associated with autonomic dysfunction. Increased orthostatic intolerance and bladder dysfunction were observed in females and males, respectively. Younger age was associated with higher orthostatic intolerance, while higher pain interference was associated with higher secretomotor dysfunction and bladder dysfunction. Further, higher depression scores were linked to higher scores in the gastrointestinal subdomain.

Conclusion

Autonomic dysfunction may affect TMD-related pain in the context of a biopsychosocial perspective.

KEYWORDS:

• Temporomandibular disorders
• autonomic
• COMPASS 31
• biopsychosocial

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflict of interest.

Ethical statement

This study was conducted in the Department of Orofacial Pain Clinic in Dankook University Dental Hospital and was approved by the Institutional Review Board (DKUDH IRB 2020-02-005) and was conducted in agreement with the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki.

Additional information

Funding

This research was conducted by National Research Foundation of Korea. Grant/Award Number:2019R1G1A1004713