Evaluation of psychosocial aspects in patients with tmd: catastrophic pain, anxiety and depression - literature review

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is certainly one of the most complex joints of the human body and, as part of the stomatognathic system, is directly related to general physiological functions. It is a structure that undergoes continuous structural changes, being able to be by modeling or bone remodeling and are responsible for the adaptation of the articular tissue in front of the continuous forces that act on this one. Thus, the surgeon-dentist must be aware of the involvement of psychological, emotional and social factors in these patients, since many organic symptoms have an emotional substrate. It can be said that most of the symptoms of TMD are of a mild nature, fluctuate over time and do not constitute functional impotence for patient. However, some individuals evolve to chronic pain and tend to potentiate pain perception at the expense of unfavorable emotional manifestations.