Evaluation of the Relationship Between Bruxism, Temperament and Childhood Trauma History

Objective: It is known that psychological factors play a role in the development of bruxism and temporomandibular joint disorders. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, childhood psychological trauma levels, and personality temperament characteristics on bruxism. Materials and Methods: Patients who applied to the Aydın State Hospital, Psychiatry Polyclinic and Aydın Adnan Menderes University Faculty of Dentistry with a complaint of clenching were included in the study. Clinical interview, SCID-I, Beck Depression Rating Scale (BDRS) Beck Anxiety Rating Scale (BARS), Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego Autoquestionnaire (TEMPS-A), childhood trauma scale (CTS) were applied. Results: The mean BDRS was determined as 13.5 BARS 20.7. According to the cut-off values of the Beck depression scale, mild depressive symptoms were observed in 25 people, moderate depressive symptoms in 20 people, and severe depressive symptoms in 7 people. Twenty-five people had mild anxiety symptoms, 14 people mild, 21 people had severe anxiety symptoms. Hyperthymic (n=1), depressive (n=11), anxious temperament (n=15), irritable temperament (n=4), and cyclothymic temperament (n=1) were found. Almost no hyperthymic or cyclothymic temperament was found in patients with bruxism. No statistically significant difference was found between men and women in terms of temperament (p>0.05), the mean of CTS was 58.6, and no difference was found in the sub-dimensions of physical, sexual emotional abuse and emotional and physical neglect. Conclusion: Although many factors are related in the etiology of bruxism, studies on the effect of personality and temperament are less. In our study, anxious temperament was found to be significantly higher in patients with bruxism.