PSYCHOSOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL-ASSESSMENT OF PATIENTS WITH TEMPOROMANDIBULAR DISORDERS - DIAGNOSTIC AND TREATMENT IMPLICATIONS

The literature on chronic pain reveals that several psychosocial and b ehavioral factors, in addition to physical pathology, play a role in r eports of pain and disability. Therefore it is important to assess pat ients more broadly rather than focus exclusively on physical pathology . Understanding and treatment of temporomandibular disorders has been impeded by the lack of agreement on a classification system with which to make a differential diagnosis. Research supports the appropriatene ss of a dual-diagnostic approach for temporomandibular disorders based on physical and psychological axes. Treatment should be directed towa rd the physical diagnoses supplemented by treatment that targets relev ant psychosocial characteristics. This approach encourages diagnostici ans to think in terms of the two relevant axes and to customize treatm ent to physical and psychosocial characteristics and thus should foste r better outcomes.