[Psychological aspects of craniomandibular dysfunction].

The role of psychological factors in the etiology and maintenance of craniomandibular dysfunction has been examined in different ways. A relation has been found between certain personality characteristics and craniomandibular dysfunction-complaints. The cause/effect relation however is unclear. The influence of stress on CMD has been demonstrated. The importance of socalled illness behaviour as a result of the complaints, especially with chronic patients has been increasingly recognized. The psychological treatment of CMD-patients often includes some form of relaxation therapy, and methods aimed at diminishing the influence of stress for example the teaching of coping skills. Motivating the patient not to seek a purely dental solution to his problem is one of the most important elements of a successful treatment program. A multidisciplinairy approach seems to be a promising approach to these multifactorially determined problems.