Importance of the Graded Chronic Pain Scale as a Biopsychosocial Screening Instrument in TMD Pain Patient Subtyping.

Aims: To compare the suitability of Graded Chronic Pain Scale (GCPS) pain intensity and interference assessments (GCPS version 1.0 vs 2.0) for the biopsychosocial screening and subtyping of Finnish tertiary care referral patients with TMD pain.

Comparison of Axis II psychosocial assessment methods of RDC/TMD and DC/TMD as part of DC/TMD-FIN phase II validation studies in tertiary care Finnish TMD pain patients.

Background: The Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD) and Diagnostic Criteria for TMD (DC/TMD) include Axis II instruments for psychosocial assessment.

Objectives: The aims were to compare the Finnish versions of Axis II psychosocial assessment methods of the RDC/TMD and DC/TMD and to study their internal reliability.

Methods: The sample comprised 197 tertiary care referral TMD pain patients.

Diagnostic criteria for temporomandibular disorders (DC/TMD): interexaminer reliability of the Finnish version of Axis I clinical diagnoses.

Recently, updated diagnostic criteria for temporomandibular disorders (DC/TMD) were published to assess TMD in a standardised way in clinical and research settings. The DC/TMD protocol has been translated into Finnish using specific cultural equivalency procedures. To assess the interexaminer reliability using the Finnish translations of the DC/TMD-FIN Axis I clinical diagnostic assessment instruments.

Assessment of Pain Drawings and Self-Reported Comorbid Pains as Part of the Biopsychosocial Profiling of Temporomandibular Disorder Pain Patients.

Aims: To assess drawings of pain sites and self-reported comorbid pains as a part of the biopsychosocial profiling of tertiary care referral patients with temporomandibular disorder (TMD) pain.

Methods: A total of 135 consecutive patients referred to tertiary care for TMD pain participated. Patients drew all the sites where they had pain on whole-body pain drawings.

Predictors for future clinically significant pain in patients with temporomandibular disorder: A prospective cohort study.

Background: Up to 30% of patients with temporomandibular disorder (TMD) run the risk of progressing to chronic pain with significant disability. This prospective cohort study assessed the effects of baseline pain and general health and psychosocial factors on the presence of clinically significant pain in patients with TMD pain at 1 year after initial consultation.

Methods: 263 primary care patients with TMD pain were included.

Explanatory Models of Illness and Treatment Goals in Temporomandibular Disorder Pain Patients Reporting Different Levels of Pain-Related Disability.

Aims: To explore whether temporomandibular disorder (TMD) pain patients reporting different levels of pain-related disability differ in terms of illness explanations and treatment expectations.

Methods: Consecutive TMD pain patients (n = 399; mean ± SD age, 40.5 ± 12.

Subtyping patients with temporomandibular disorders in a primary health care setting on the basis of the research diagnostic criteria for temporomandibular disorders axis II pain-related disability: a step toward tailored treatment planning?

Aims: To use the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD) Axis II and additional pain-related and psychosocial variables to identify subtypes of TMD patients in a primary health care setting based on pain-related disability.

Methods: Consecutive TMD pain patients (n = 399) seeking treatment in a primary care setting completed a multidimensional pain questionnaire. Subtyping was based on the Graded Chronic Pain Scale (GCPS), and the patients were divided into a no-disability group (0 disability points), lowdisability group (1-2 disability points), and high-disability group (3-6 disability points).

Tailored treatments in temporomandibular disorders: where are we now? A systematic qualitative literature review.

Aims: To conduct a systematic review to evaluate the evidence of possible benefits of tailored treatments for temporomandibular disorders (TMD) based on randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Methods: Reports of RCTs investigating treatments tailored to TMD patients' psychosocial characteristics were systematically searched for through March 2013 in the following databases: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PubMed, and Web of Science. The methodological quality of the RCTs was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration's tool for assessing risk of bias.

Research Diagnostic Criteria Axis II in screening and as a part of biopsychosocial subtyping of Finnish patients with temporomandibular disorder pain.

Aims: To assess Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD) Axis II variables in an initial psychosocial screening and as a part of biopsychosocial subtyping of Finnish referral patients with TMD pain for adjunct multidisciplinary assessment.

Methods: Consecutive Finnish referral patients with TMD pain (n = 135) participated in this questionnaire-based survey. Psychosocial screening was based on Graded Chronic Pain Scale (GCPS) and culturally adjusted Symptom Checklist 90-revised (SCL-90R) depression scale scores and subtyping on GCPS pain-related interference in accordance with previous treatment tailoring studies.

Postural and dynamic masseter and anterior temporalis muscle EMG repeatability in serial assessments.

Electromyographic (EMG) assessment has been used as a non-invasive tool to objectively assess muscle function, although with controversial research and clinical potential. The aim of this study was to assess within-, inter-subject and between-day repeatability of serial EMG recordings. The study sample included 10 asymptomatic subjects with no history of temporomandibular disorders or muscle parafunctions.

Review of clinical EMG studies related to muscle and occlusal factors in healthy and TMD subjects.

Several electronic instruments have been developed as adjuncts to objectively record the dysfunctional features of temporomandibular disorders and to study the effectiveness of various treatment interventions. The aim of this review was to assess the value and contribution of clinical electromyographic research in the understanding of asymptomatic and dysfunctional muscle function and the therapeutic effects of interocclusal appliances. For this purpose MedLine and PubMed searches were conducted with the following main keywords alone and in various combinations: electromyography, muscles of mastication, masseter, temporalis, temporomandibular, TMD, utility, validity, repeatability, rest, postural, vertical dimension, occlusal, splint, treatment.

Electromyographic activity of frontalis and sternocleidomastoid muscles in patients with temporomandibular disorders.

Little is known of the effects of an interocclusal appliance on the activity of craniocervical muscles in patients with temporomandibular disorder. The bilateral electromyographic activity of the frontalis muscle and sternocleidomastoid muscle were assessed in 10 patients with temporomandibular disorders and eight gender, age and dentally matched asymptomatic control subjects during rest and different clenching tasks with or without an interocclusal appliance. Clenching significantly increased both frontalis and sternocleidomastoid activity from rest.

Review of aetiological concepts of temporomandibular pain disorders: towards a biopsychosocial model for integration of physical disorder factors with psychological and psychosocial illness impact factors.

Several studies have reported that musculoskeletal disorders of the stomatognathic system, commonly known as temporomandibular disorders (TMD) resemble musculoskeletal disorders and chronic pain disorders in general. There is also general consensus that combined biomedical and biopsychosocial methods best support the assessment and management of the cardinal features of TMD, i.e.

Chronic myofascial pain, disk displacement with reduction and psychosocial factors in Finnish non-patients.

This study aimed to determine chronic groups of myofascial pain and chronic disk displacement with reduction over a 1-year period, and to study the relationship between psychological status and these chronic subgroups of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) in non-patients. A total of 211 subjects (males 47%, mean age 46 years; standard deviation 6) attended examinations in 1999 and 2000 performed according to the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD). Chronic myofascial pain was found in 7% and chronic disk displacement with reduction in 11% of subjects; new diagnoses were made in only 4% and 1% of the subjects, respectively.

Temporomandibular disorder subtypes according to self-reported physical and psychosocial variables in female patients: a re-evaluation.

Several studies support the relevance of psychological and psychosocial factors in the assessment and management of chronic musculoskeletal pain disorders, including temporomandibular pain disorders (TMDs). The aim of this study was to re-evaluate subtyping approach used in an earlier study (TI Suvinen, KR Hanes, JA Gerschman, PC Reade. J Orofac Pain 1997;11:200) and to compare perceived physical symptoms, psychological, coping and psychosocial variables between subtypes of patients who seek treatment for their temporomandibular pain and dysfunction.

Perceived stress, pain and work performance among non-patient working personnel with clinical signs of temporomandibular or neck pain.

The aim of the present study was to assess the associations between different types of perceived stress, pain and work performance among non-patients with clinical signs of muscle pain in the head/neck region. One-fifth (n = 241) of the 1339 media employees who had participated in a previous survey (Ahlberg J. et al.

An 8-year follow-up study of temporomandibular disorder and psychosomatic symptoms from adolescence to young adulthood.

Aims: To assess the prevalence of subjective symptoms of pain and/or temporomandibular disorder (TMD) dysfunction and their association with psychosomatic (PS) symptoms in a longitudinal follow-up study of Finnish young adults over an 8-year period.

Methods: One hundred twenty-eight Finnish young adults (60 men and 68 women) were assessed longitudinally at the ages of 15, 18, and 23 years using routine stomatognathic methods and a standardized questionnaire.

Results: The prevalence of reported TMD symptoms ranged from 6% to 12% for pain symptoms, from 12% to 28% for dysfunctional symptoms, and from 4% to 7% for a combination of these 2 types of symptoms.

The effect of an interocclusal appliance on bite force and masseter electromyography in asymptomatic subjects and patients with temporomandibular pain and dysfunction.

The aims of this study were to assess the effect of clenching with or without the presence of an interocclusal appliance (IOA) on bite force (BF) and masseter electromyography (EMG) in patients with temporomandibular pain dysfunction disorders (TMPD) and to compare these results with an asymptomatic age- and gender-matched control group. Ten patients with TMPD (mean age 26.9 years) were compared with eight healthy controls (mean age 25.

Symptoms, signs, and clinical diagnoses according to the research diagnostic criteria for temporomandibular disorders among Finnish multiprofessional media personnel.

Aims: To apply the Finnish version of the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD) Axis I to assess the occurrence of symptoms, signs, and specific subgroups of TMD, and to study the associations between the most common diagnoses and categoric demographic characteristics (gender, age group, marital status, type of work).

Methods: All 30- to 55-year-old employees of the Finnish Broadcasting Company with at least 5 years at their current employment received postal questionnaires (n = 1784). Of the 1339 respondents (75%), a randomly selected one fifth were clinically examined according to the RDC/TMD Axis I (n = 241, males 48%).

Temporomandibular joint related painless symptoms, orofacial pain, neck pain, headache, and psychosocial factors among non-patients.

The aims of this study were to assess the prevalence of temporomandibular joint related (TMJ) painless symptoms, orofacial pain, neck pain, and headache in a Finnish working population and to evaluate the association of the symptoms with psychosocial factors. A self-administered postal questionnaire concerning items on demographic background, employment details, perceived general state of health, medication, psychosocial status, and use of health-care services, was mailed to all employees with at least 5 years at their current job. The questionnaire was completed by 1339 subjects (75%).

Vertical jaw separation and masseter muscle electromyographic activity: a comparative study between asymptomatic controls & patients with temporomandibular pain & dysfunction.

The aims of the present study were to assess the relationship pattern between bilateral masseter muscle electromyographic (MEMG) activity recordings and vertical jaw separation (VJS). Asymptomatic subjects (n = 15) were compared with age and gender-matched patients (n = 18) with temporomandibular pain and dysfunction (TMPD); before and after undergoing interocclusal appliance (IOA) therapy for 4 months. In asymptomatic subjects a bilateral minimum MEMG activity was found in a 'resting zone' at approximately a quarter of maximum mandibular opening (mean, 15.

Distinct biopsychosocial profiles emerge among nonpatients.

Objectives: The cross-sectional study comprised 30- to 55-year-old permanent employees (N=1784) of the Finnish Broadcasting Company (YLE).

Methods: The participants (N=1339, response rate 75%) completed standardised questionnaires covering demographic items, physical health, work performance, stress symptoms, pain and musculoskeletal symptoms, and overall biopsychosocial health.

Results: Physical symptoms (present often or continually) were reported by 15%, psychosomatic by 19% and psychosocial by 14%.

Reported bruxism and stress experience.

The aim of the study was to analyze whether perceived bruxism was associated with stress experience, age, gender, work role, and occupational health care use among a nonpatient multiprofessional population. Altogether, 1784 (age 30-55 years) employees of the Finnish Broadcasting Company were mailed a self-administered questionnaire covering demographics, perceived bruxism, total stress experience and the use of health care services provided by the company. The response rate was 75% (n = 1339, 51% men) and mean age was 46 years (SD = 6) in both genders.

The effect of interocclusal appliances on temporomandibular joints as assessed by 3D reconstruction of MRI scans.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) enables simultaneous visualization of hard and soft tissues. The aims of the present study were to computer generate three-dimensional (3D) images, reconstructed from MRI scans of normal temporomandibular joints (TMJ), to assess the relative positions of the disc, condyle and articular surface of the temporal bone and to study the effect of two mandibular group function interocclusal appliances (IOAs). Bilateral MRI scans of 2 mm slice thickness were generated for the TMJs of 12 asymptomatic subjects with the image acquisition coils orientated in a corrected oblique sagittal plane.