Personality Characteristics of Patients With Temporomandibular Disorders: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Implications

One hundred ten patients complaining of nondental orofacial pain of more than 3 months' duration were psychologically evaluated with the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. Four distinct personality profiles were found: psychophysiologic reaction, in 52% of the patients; depressed reaction, in 11% of the patients; defensive reaction, in 12% of the patients; and "no diagnosis" (normal), in 24% of the patients. These results indicate that chronic temporomandibular pain patients present personality characteristics that are similar to those of other chronic pain patients according to the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. The diagnostic and therapeutic implications of each profile are reviewed and discussed in terms of a medical model of temporomandibular disorders.