Psychological Distress in Temporomandibular Disorders: A Dass-21 Based Cross-Sectional Study

Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are common musculoskeletal conditions often associated with psychological comorbidities. This cross-sectional study assessed psychological distress using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) in 311 TMD patients. Females reported significantly higher distress across all domains (?? = 13.42, p = 0.0012). Symptom duration influenced outcomes: acute cases were predominantly stress-driven, while chronic cases showed depression and anxiety dominance (?? = 132.37, p < 0.001). Age also shaped outcomes (?? = 54.35, p < 0.001), with younger groups reporting stress and anxiety, and older groups showing depression predominance. Diagnostic subtypes did not demonstrate significant associations (?? = 2.84, p = 0.58). Findings confirm sex, age, and chronicity as key determinants of psychological burden in TMD. Incorporating DASS-21 screening into routine care may improve early detection, intervention, and patient outcomes.