CORRELATION BETWEEN TEMPOROMANDIBULAR DISORDER AND ANXIETY: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5335/rfo.v31i1.18015Keywords:
Temporomandibular disorderAbstract
Objective: This study aimed to investigate the correlation between pain related to temporomandibular disorder and patient-reported anxiety. Methods: A total of 63 individuals, aged between 19 and 68 years, who sought care at the Federal University of Santa Maria between 2022 and 2025 were evaluated. Dental examinations were performed, and assessments were conducted using the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD). Pain was measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), while anxiety was assessed using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder questionnaire (GAD-7). Results: The majority of the sample was female (79.4%), self-reported as White (90.3%), and the mean age was 32.9 years. Only 13 (21.3%) patients reported no anxiety; 22 (36.1%) had mild anxiety; 15 (24.6%) had moderate anxiety; and 11 (18%) had severe anxiety. A moderate positive association was observed between pain levels and anxiety. Conclusion: The conceptual hypothesis was accepted, as patients with higher levels of anxiety presented higher self-reported pain scores.
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