Original Articles
Jing Zhang,Yisi Zhong,Yunhao Zheng,Li Zhang,Xin Xiong
Objective This study aimed to investigate the differences in anxiety and depression and their associated factors in various subcategories of patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and to provide a basis for multidisciplinary treatment of TMD patients. Methods Sociodemographic information such as age, gender, education level, and per capita monthly household income of TMD patients were collected. Anxiety and depression were assessed using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Based on the DC/TMD diagnostic criteria, TMD was classified into three subtypes, namely, painful TMD (PT), intra-articular TMD (IT), and combined TMD (CT), which has PT and IT. R 4.2.2 was used for data processing and statistical analysis. Results Among the 362 TMD patients included in this study, 131 (36.2%) had anxiety and 153 (42.3%) had depression. A significant positive correlation existed between GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scores in patients with TMD (r=0.733, P<0.001; ρ=0.710, P<0.001). GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scores in patients with CT were significantly higher than those in patients with IT (P<0.001, P=0.002). GAD-7 scores were significantly negatively associated with male gender, per capita monthly household income of 3 000-6 000 RMB and higher than 6 000 RMB, and education level of college or bachelor’s degree. Meanwhile, GAD-7 scores were significantly positively associated with the CT subtype (P<0.05). PHQ-9 scores were significantly negatively associated with age, male gender, and per capita monthly household income higher than 6 000 RMB, whereas they were significantly positively associated with the CT subtype (P<0.05). Conclusion Approximately 40% of TMD patients had anxiety and depression. Anxiety and depression in patients with painful TMD should be given attention in clinical practice, and psychological interventions and multidisciplinary treatments may have better therapeutic outcomes for patients with painful TMD. Anxiety and depression in young patients, female patients, and patients with low income and education level were also noteworthy.