Temporomandibular Disorders as a Risk Factor for Suicidal Behavior: A Systematic Review

Unlocking the link between temporomandibular disorders and suicide ideation in pre-orthodontic patients: A moderated mediation model of depression and anxiety

BACKGROUND

Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are a series of musculoskeletal diseases with high prevalence. A few studies have reported the correlation between TMD and suicide ideation (SI). However, the underlying mechanism of the relationship lacks in-depth exploration.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 954 pre-orthodontic patients. TMD assessment was based on the quintessential five TMD symptoms (5Ts) questionnaire. Anxiety, depression and pain catastrophizing was evaluated by Seven-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), Nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), respectively. Correlational and moderated mediated analysis was preformed to demonstrate the relationship between TMD and SI.

RESULTS

In pre-orthodontic patients, 31.87 % reported having TMD symptoms and 6.50 % declared SI during the past two weeks. The SI prevalence was 10.53 % in participants with TMD and 4.62 % in those without TMD. Intra-articular TMD, rather than pain-related TMD were especially related with SI. Individuals with TMD had higher risk to SI (rs = 0.112, adjusted OR = 2.213, p < 0.001). The effect of TMD on SI was fully mediated through depression (β = 0.445, 95 % CI = [0.326, 0.563]). Anxiety exerted a negative moderating effect on the depression-SI relation (β = -0.033, 95 % CI = [-0.047, -0.019]).

LIMITATIONS

This study was a single-centered and cross-sectional survey. The data collection relied on self-reporting methods.

CONCLUSIONS

A positive link between TMD and SI was disclosed. The effect of TMD on SI was fully mediated through depression with anxiety as a negative moderator.

Musculoskeletal disorders among dental assistants: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

This study aims to investigate the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and associated sociodemographic and work-related factors among dental assistants (DAs) in the hail province, Saudi Arabia.

METHODS

Participants were 119 DAs with an average age of 28.9 years (SD ± 4.8 years), of whom 86.6% were females. A self-administered questionnaire which included Nordic Musculoskeletal questionnaire and questions on socio-demographic and work-related factors was used. Descriptive statistics were used to calculate the prevalence of MSDs during the past 12 months and 7 days. Multivariate binary logistic regression statistical tests were used to calculate the association between MSDs and socio-demographic and work-related factors.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of MSDs among DAs was significantly high, with 85.7% reporting symptoms during the past 12 months and 47.9% during the past 7 days. The shoulders, followed by the lower back, were the most common complaints among participants in the past 12 months and 7 days, followed by the upper back and neck. Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis results show significant associations between MSDs and age, Body-Mass-Index (BMI), physical demands during working hours, work environment and posture awareness, and years of experience.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of MSDs among DAs is high, and sociodemographic and work-related factors play an important role in exacerbation of MSDs in DAs.

Exploring the Association of Burning Mouth Syndrome with Depressive and Anxiety Disorders in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS) is an idiopathic condition mainly affecting middle-aged and older individuals with hormonal disturbances or psychiatric disorders and is characterized by chronic pain. The etiopathogenesis of this multifactorial syndrome is largely unknown. The objective of the present systematic review was therefore to evaluate the relationship of BMS with depressive and anxiety disorders in middle-aged and older individuals.

METHODS

We selected studies evaluating BMS and depressive and anxiety disorders assessed with validated tools, published from their inception up to April 2023, using PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, Ovid, and Google Scholar databases and adhering to the PRISMA 2020 guidelines/PRISMA 2020 27-item checklist. This study is registered on PROSPERO (CRD42023409595). The National Institutes of Health Quality Assessment Toolkits for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies were used to examine the risk of bias.

RESULTS

Two independent investigators rated 4322 records against the primary endpoint and found 7 records meeting the eligibility requirements. Anxiety disorders were found to be the most common psychiatric disorders related to BMS (63.7%), followed by depressive disorders (36.3%). We found a moderate association of BMS with anxiety disorders, with multiple studies included (n = 7). Moreover, we found a low association of BMS with depressive disorders (included studies, n = 4). The role of pain appeared to be controversial in explaining these associations.

CONCLUSIONS

In middle-aged and older subjects, anxiety and depressive disorders may be potentially related to the development of BMS. Furthermore, also in these age groups, females showed higher risk of developing BMS than males, even when taking into account multimorbidity such as sleep disorders, personality traits, and biopsychosocial changes as suggested by study-specific findings.