engleski

Impact of Orofacial Pain on Daily Living in PTSD Patients

Introduction: While chronic orofacial pain represents a diagnostic and treatment challenge for the clinician, it is reason for considerable suffering for the patients. Aim of the study: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of orofacial pain on daily living in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) patients. Methods: The group of 40 war veterans with PTSD (age median= 40, range 29-52) were investigated using RDC/TMD protocol. Pain intensity as well as the impact of pain/discomfort on the daily activity, ability to work (including housework), recreational, social and family activities were investigated using VAS scale (0-10). Results: In our previously work we observed high rate of orofacial pain among PTSD patients Ninety four percent (94%) of PTSD patients reported orofacial pain. On VAS they evaluated rate/intensity of their orofacial pain as 6.89&plusmn ; 2.33. The impact of orofacial pain/discomfort on the daily activity, ability to work (including housework) as well as recreational, social and family activities was evaluated as 6.22&plusmn ; 2.46, 6.44&plusmn ; 2.73, and 6.23&plusmn ; 2.51, respectively. Pain was positively correlated with daily activity (r=0.62, p<0.001), ability to work (r=0.66, p<0.001) as well as recreational, social and family activities (r=0.64, p<0.001). Conclusion: This study indicates that pain/discomfort from orofacial region has negative impact on activities of daily living. More effort must be done in patients´ pain relief and improving quality of their life.

PTSD; orofacial pain

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