ANALYSIS OF GENDER EFFECTS ON PAIN PERCEPTION AND SYMPTOM PRESENTATION IN TEMPOROMANDIBULAR PAIN

Based on clinical populations, chronic orofacial pain of temporomandib ular disorders (TMD) occurs more frequently (range: 2:1 to 9:1) in wom en than men. The reasons for this difference are not clear. The presen t study evaluated symptom presentation, sensitivity to pain, personali ty, and illness behavior in 2 samples of patients suffering with orofa cial pain. Also, pain responses were studied in pain-free volunteers, controlling for experimenter-gender effects. The results showed few ge nder differences based on ratings of chronic or experimental pain, pai n-related illness behavior, and personality. The higher ratio of women versus men seeking TMD care is consistent with greater health awarene ss or interest in symptoms by women than by men.