EVIDENCE FOR CONSTRUCT-VALIDITY OF THE TMJ SCALE IN A SAMPLE OF CHRONIC POSTTRAUMATIC HEADACHE PATIENTS

The construct validity of the TMJ Scale(TM) was examined in a sample o f chronic post-traumatic headache patients. Clinical indicators of tem poromandibular (TM) dysfunction and measures of psychosocial distress were compared with relevant scales of the TMJ Scale. The clinical indi cators were first subjected to principal components analysis. The resu lting factor scores correlated significantly with selected physical do main scales of the TMJ Scale. The factor scores also significantly pre dicted the TMJ Global Scale in a regression analysis. Selected psychos ocial domain scales of the TMJ Scale correlated strongly with measures of depression and anger and a clinical diagnosis of post-traumatic st ress disorder. The results support the validity of the TMJ Scale and d emonstrate its utility with post-traumatic headache patients.