Ff. Brown et al., PAIN SEVERITY, NEGATIVE AFFECT, AND MICROSTRESSERS AS PREDICTORS OF LIFE INTERFERENCE IN TMD PATIENTS, Cranio, 14(1), 1996, pp. 63-70
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among negat
ive affect (depression, anxiety, and anger), microstressors (hassles),
temporomandibular disorder (TMD) pain severity, and life interference
, using structural equations modeling, One hundred four subjects were
recruited from the Parker Mahan Facial Pain Clinic at the University o
f Florida, Significant positive direct effects were found for paths be
tween pain severity and life interference; pain severity and negative
affect; and negative affect and life interference. These results are c
onsistent with a learning or behavioral model of suffering and suggest
that negative affect is an important mediating variable in the relati
onship between pain and life interference. Microstressors were not a s
ignificant predictor and may not be a relevant issue in the TMD popula
tion. The results suggest that the impact of chronic pain conditions i
s influenced by both pain and negative affect, and assessment and trea
tment of chronic TMD disorders may better benefit from a multidiscipli
nary approach.