Psychological characteristics of long-term female temporomandibular joint pain patients.

Analysis from the Taylor Manifest Anxiety Scale (TMAS) scores of 44 long-term temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain patients and 10 facial pain patients of a non-TMJ variety shows no significant differences. Both groups were significantly higher than a normative group. After treatment TMJ patients are not significantly different on the TMAS than the normative group. Etiological implications are discussed.