Psychological Investigation in Myofascial Pain Syndrome Patients

ABSTRACT

The myofascial pain syndrome patients usually have characteristic personalities. The purpose of this study is to investigate the psychological characteristics of myofascial pain syndrome patients. We reviewed medical records of fifty-four patients with myofascial pain syndrome for their Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, Visual Analogue Scale, and psychological interview notes. On MMPI profile, the patients scored high in hypochondriasis, hysteria and depression scales, which are the triad of neurosis. According to stress factors and occupations, the psychologic responses were different. We have compared the severity of pain according to different life stress and occupations. VAS scores of the student group were higher statistically in the occupation comparison and of the marital problem group were higher in the life stress comparison. It is suggested that psychologic intervention on myofascial pain syndrome patients should be stressed for the management of pain.