THERAPY-RESISTANT PERIODONTITIS - PSYCHOSOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS

This study investigated the perspective of a stress system disorder in the pathogenesis of therapy-resistant periodontitis. The goal was to find indications that the stress-behaviour-immune system model holds a s an explanatory model for the understanding of periodontal disease. 2 patient-groups were compared: one group classified as responding well to periodontal treatment (responsive-group, R-group, n=11); the other group was classified as responding less well to treatment (non-respon sive-group, NR-group, n=11). Somatic and psychological factors were de scribed as obtained by interviews and psychological testings. These fi ndings were related to clinical data documented during the treatment o f the patients. An exact logistic multivariate regression analysis was performed on a model based on variables selected by bivariate analysi s (variable versus group). The results indicated that the NR-group pat ients displayed indications of more psychosocial strain and a more pas sive-dependent personality. The R-group patients displayed a more rigi d personality and possibly a less stressful psychosocial situation in the past. The report highlights the possible contribution of stress fa ctors in the context of therapy resistant periodontal disease, and the results seem to be understandable within the context of a stress syst em disorder perspective.