Objectives: To determine the prevalence of psychiatric morbidity among Nigerian patients with temporomandibular joint pain and dysfunction (facial arthromyalgia). to delineate the specific types of comorbid psychiatric disorders and identify the socio-demographic characteristics of the patients with psychiatric disorders.
Design: A two-stage design was adopted to study the prevalence and types of co-morbid psychiatric disorders of identified 24 patients with temporomandibular joint pain and dysfunction over a period of 5 years.
Setting: Pain and Psychiatric clinics of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benini City, Nigeria.
Methods: The patients were controlled for age gender, and marital status. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. 28-item General Health Questionnaires and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scales were used for first stage screening while the second stage interview utilised the Psychiatric Assessment Schedule.
Results: The prevalence of psychiatric morbidity was 37.5% and 12.5% in the study and control groups respectively. Generalised anxiety disorder and dysthmia were the main forms of psychiatric disorders identified. Temporomandibular joint pain and dysfunction patients with co-morbid psychiatric disorders were significantly older (P<0.0001), had the illness for shorter periods before presentation (p<0.001) and were non-professionals.
Conclusion: The findings highlight the need for multi-disciplinary approach to the assessment and management of patients with temporomandibular joint pain and dysfunction.