Temporomandibular Disorder and Psychological Distress Relationships in Air Traffic Controllers

Abstract

Background: Air traffic controllers (ATC) are subject to high cognitive and operational demands, exposing them to stress, anxiety and depression. Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is the main disorder of non-odontogenic etiology for chronic facial pain that affects muscles and joints, and has been related to psychological distress. Therefore, ATC could be susceptible to TMD. Objective: This study verified the prevalence of TMD and its relationship with psychological distress in ATC. Methods: Brazilian ATC of both sexes participated in this study (n: 121; 27.9 ± 4.2 years old). Participants were asked to complete questionnaires about signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorders: FAI; and about psychological distress: PSS-10; GAD-7; and PHQ-9. Inferential statistical analyzes for comparison between factors and correlation between dependent variables were adopted with 5.0% significance. Results: TMD was highly prevalent among ATC. More than half of ATC have at least one psychological disturbing condition; they include anxiety (n:13; 13.7%), stress (n: 58; 47.9%), depression (n: 24; 19.8%), and comorbidities (n: 22; 18.2%) among these psychological distressing conditions. Psychological distress scores (anxiety, stress and depression) were higher in ATC with TMD (p<.01; all comparions) or need-TMD treatment (p<.01; p= .02; p<.01, respectively) than in ATC without TMD, a some of them achieving clinically meaningful effects. Conclusion: TMD is quite prevalent among Brazilian military ATCs, and ATCs who exhibit TMD’s signs and symptoms are more psychologically distressed. In order to improve ATC's health and, by extension, flight safety, it is critical that management and preventive measures be implemented in military medicine.

Keywords

• depression
• anxiety
• stress
• temporomandibular disorder
• military personnel