Personality characteristics of patients with myofascial pain-dysfunction (MPD) syndrome unresponsive to conventional therapy.

The composite MMPI profiles of 42 successfully-treated and 42 unsuccessfully-treated female patients with MPD syndrome were compared statistically. The profiles did not differ in configuration, but that of the unsuccessful patients was significantly higher than that of the successful group, indicating a greater degree of emotional distress. The pattern of deviation from normal for both groups was diagnostic of a psychophysiological disorder marked by repression and somatization.