SINTOMATOLOGIA DEPRESSIVA ASSOCIADA À DISFUNÇÃO TEMPOROMANDIBULAR

Abstract

Background: Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is a group of clinical signs and symptoms that may affect the orofacial musculature and the temporomandibular joint. Its etiology is multifactorial, however, depression has been indicated in the literature as one of the risk factors, and there is a need for studies to elucidate the performance of depression in the development of TMD. Objectives: To study the association of depression and the presence of temporomandibular disorder in students. Methods: Cross-sectional study of TMD prevalence, involving 763 students, from a simple random sample. For the description of the TMD symptoms, the Fonseca’s Anamnesic Index (FAI) and the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD) axis II were used. After, 168 subjects diagnosed with severe depression were submitted to the RDC/TMD axis I to diagnose TMD and the axis II of the same questionnaire for questions about parafunctional habits, tinnitus, perception of occlusion and headache. Results: The prevalence of TMD was 63.8% and that of signs and symptoms of depression was 47.6%. Carriers of severe depressive symptoms had a risk 12.51 times higher of developing TMD signs and symptoms when compared to the students with no signs and symptoms of TMD and depression (p <0.01). Among the college students with severe depression symptons (p<0.05) a significant association was observed between the diagnosis of TMD and reports of diurnal (95.2%) and nocturnal (91.9%) parafunctional habits, report of tired jaw (93.8%), presence of tinnitus (91.9%), feeling that the teeth do not articulate well (90.3%) and headache (89.7%). Creaking or clenching teeth (OR = 7.61, CI = 1.51-38.26), presence of tinnitus (OR = 3.83, CI = 1.34-10.95) and presence of headache (OR = 6.80; CI = 2.67-17.28) were indicators of increased risks of developing TMD among college students with severe depressive symptomatology. Conclusions: There was a statistically significant association between the presence of signs and symptoms of TMD and depression. As greater the severity of the symptoms of depression, higher the risk to develop TMD signs and symptoms. There was a high prevalence of TMD in college students with severe signs and symptoms of depression, highlighting an increased risk of developing TMD among those who self-perceived diurnal parafunctional habits, tinnitus and headache.