2017 Volume 29 Issue 2 Pages 92-99
Both psychological and physical factors are considered to contribute to temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). However, psychological factors are more difficult to objectively evaluate than physical factors in TMDs. The aim of this study was to assess the psychological factors of ego state affecting the duration of symptoms of temporomandibular disorders. The study participants consisted of 236 patients (174 women, 62 men) newly visiting for TMDs following medical examination at the temporomandibular joint clinic of the Niigata University Medical and Dental Hospital during 2010. We analyzed the participants' ego states using the Egogram checklist (ECL). The ECL is a tool for objectively diagnosing ego state and is based on a transactional analysis theory.
Using the Japanese TMD symptom type classification (2001), the patients were classified by three specialists. We examined ego state (CP/NP style, FC/AC style), sex, age, TMD diagnosis, and duration of symptoms in all patients. Logistic regression analysis was used for statistical analysis. Statistically significant differences were indicated by a p-value of less than 0.05. FC<AC style and female sex were factors contributing to TMD symptoms that persisted for a long time of more than six months (p<0.05).
