Illness and injury among children of temporomandibular pain and dysfunction syndrome (TMPDS) patients

This paper examines findings on illnesses and injuries among patients suffering from temporomandibular pain and dysfunction syndrome (TMPDS). Data from the longitudinal component of a case-control study of 151 TMPDS patients and 139 healthy controls were examined, focusing especially on the 31 cases and 41 controls with children. Patients are significantly more likely to report illnesses but not injuries among their children across 10 monthly interviews. The patients' excess in reporting of illnesses is not found for spouses or additional significant others. Overreporting does not appear to be due to illness attitudes or other discernible reporting biases, but may be partially attributable to higher rates of demoralization among the cases. Findings are discussed in view of hypotheses about familially transmitted vulnerability to pain and illness.