Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the psychosomatic state on the measurement of the pressure pain threshold (PPT) in the maxillofacial area. To achieve this purpose, first, each of 20 healthy subjects(10males and 10 females; mean age±standard deviation,26.34±2.50years) was given two kinds of the psychological tests (STAI, POMS). Second, the PPT at the bilateral styloid process of the temporal bone of each subject, which is known to be a site having high susceptibility to pressure pain, was measured five times by the same investigator. The measurements were performed by using the pressure algometer that had been improved after referring to the pressure algometers used in past studies. Furthermore, we examined the relationship between each score of indexes in STAI and POMS and the coefficient of variation (CV) in the PPT of each subject. There was a significant positive correlation between each score of the five indexes related to a negative affect in STAI and POMS and CV in the PPT. The present study suggested that the effect of the psychosomatic state might influence the measurement of the PPT in patients with orofacial-pain who have a psychosomatic background. Orofacial pain derives from complex perceptions in the maxillofacial area with sensitivity differing among individuals due to physical, psychological, experiential, and other factors. Effective treatment of orofacial pain therefore requires a reliable understanding of symptoms, particularly an appropriate selection of methods for the assessment of pain.
