Chronic myofascial pain, disk displacement with reduction and psychosocial factors in Finnish non-patients.

This study aimed to determine chronic groups of myofascial pain and chronic disk displacement with reduction over a 1-year period, and to study the relationship between psychological status and these chronic subgroups of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) in non-patients. A total of 211 subjects (males 47%, mean age 46 years; standard deviation 6) attended examinations in 1999 and 2000 performed according to the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD). Chronic myofascial pain was found in 7% and chronic disk displacement with reduction in 11% of subjects; new diagnoses were made in only 4% and 1% of the subjects, respectively. An increase in the level of somatization by 1 step increased the probability of having chronic myofascial pain by over 3 times (P = 0.006). Myofascial pain and disk displacement with reduction seem to be relatively common and fluctuating in nature in non-patients. As somatization associated significantly with myofascial pain, this should be borne in mind in the management of TMD. The results strengthen the rationale of the biopsychosocial orientation in health care.

Temporomandibular joint related painless symptoms, orofacial pain, neck pain, headache, and psychosocial factors among non-patients.

The aims of this study were to assess the prevalence of temporomandibular joint related (TMJ) painless symptoms, orofacial pain, neck pain, and headache in a Finnish working population and to evaluate the association of the symptoms with psychosocial factors. A self-administered postal questionnaire concerning items on demographic background, employment details, perceived general state of health, medication, psychosocial status, and use of health-care services, was mailed to all employees with at least 5 years at their current job. The questionnaire was completed by 1339 subjects (75%). Frequent (often or continual) TMJ-related painless symptoms were found in 10%, orofacial pain in 7%, neck pain in 39%, and headache in 15% of subjects. Females reported all pain symptoms significantly more often than men (P < 0.001). Frequent pain and TMJ-related symptoms were significantly associated with self-reported stress, depression, and somatization (P < 0.001). Perceived poor general state of health (P < 0.001), health care visits (P < 0.001), overload at work (P < 0.001), life satisfaction (P < 0.05), and work satisfaction (P < 0.05) were also significantly associated with pain symptoms, but the work duty was not (P > 0.05). Our findings are in accordance with earlier studies and confirm the strong relationship between neck pain, headache, orofacial pain. TMJ-related painless symptoms, and psychosocial factors. Furthermore, TMJ-related symptoms and painful conditions seem to be more associated with work-related psychosocial factors than with type of work itself.

Self-reported stress among multiprofessional media personnel.

BACKGROUND: Recent research shows increasing rates of occupational stress and stress-related disorders. OBJECTIVE: To study self-reported stress and its association with work (work duty, working hours and shift work), sick leave and gender among multiprofessional media personnel. METHODS: We used a questionnaire study among 30- to 55-year-old radio and TV broadcasting employees (n = 1339). RESULTS: Stress was felt 'rather much' by 18% and 'very much' by 6%. Females reported stress (P < 0.05) and absence from work (P < 0.05) more often than males. The probability of having 'rather much' or 'very much' stress was significantly associated with self-reported overtime (P < 0.01) and the amount of reported sick leave (P < 0.05) CONCLUSION: Self-reported overtime and sick leave appear to be associated with higher level of self-reported stress, regardless of age, gender or work duty.

Symptoms, signs, and clinical diagnoses according to the research diagnostic criteria for temporomandibular disorders among Finnish multiprofessional media personnel.

AIMS: To apply the Finnish version of the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD) Axis I to assess the occurrence of symptoms, signs, and specific subgroups of TMD, and to study the associations between the most common diagnoses and categoric demographic characteristics (gender, age group, marital status, type of work). METHODS: All 30- to 55-year-old employees of the Finnish Broadcasting Company with at least 5 years at their current employment received postal questionnaires (n = 1784). Of the 1339 respondents (75%), a randomly selected one fifth were clinically examined according to the RDC/TMD Axis I (n = 241, males 48%). RESULTS: Pain symptoms in the face or jaw regions were perceived by 14.9% and pain with 1 or more jaw movements by 9.1%. Diagnoses by the RDC/TMD criteria were: Group I: myofascial pain in 12.9%, myofascial pain with limited opening in 0.4%; Group II: disc displacement with reduction in the right temporomandibular joint (TMJ) in 9.1% and in the left TMJ in 10.8%; Group III: arthralgia in 0.4% and 0.8%, osteoarthritis in 0% and 0.4%, and osteoarthrosis in 1.2% and 1.2%, respectively, in the right and left TMJs. The most common diagnoses were found more often among women than among men. No TMD diagnosis based on the RDC/TMD was obtained in 73% of the subjects. CONCLUSION: The RDC/TMD appear to be of benefit in diagnosing TMD among these multiprofessional media personnel and thus may be suggested for use among nonpatient populations.