Temporomandibular Disorders have been linked to both biomechanical and psychosocial causation. An investigation of the symptoms often related to Temporomandibular Disorders was conducted at a Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Center and where patients were evaluated concerning their perception of the symptoms. Objective: To evaluate the patients referred for general stress reduction that present with symptoms related to Temporomandibular Disorders after participation in an eight week stress reduction program. Method: A population of 578 individuals was referred for evaluation. 448 (77.5%) completed the intake process (2/3 female, 1/3 male; mean age 44 years). At that time a VAS was administered for symptoms of Temporomandibular Disorders. Of those at intake, 340 were enrolled and a total of 278 completed the eight program and post treatment VAS. Results: Of the 229 patients that completed both the pre and post treatment VAS scales, changes were as follows: TMJ pain (23.66%) from 8.40 to 4.21 (<.0001), TM Joint clicking (18.75%) from 8.12 to 4.38 (<.0001), Headache (45.98%) from 9.15 to 6.0 (<.0001), Face pain (17.41%) from 7.31 to 6.23 (0.0066, Neck Pain (50.89%) from 8.82 to 6.23 (<.0001), Earache (10.71%) from 4.21 to 1.54 (0.0079), Ear Stuffiness (16.07%) from 7.00 to 3.78 (0.0005), Arm pain (28.13%) from 8.05 to 5.11 (<.0001), Upper back (40.63%) from 8.75 to 6.03 (<.0001), Lower back (50.45%) from 8.98 to 6.10 (<.0001) and Tooth pain (19.64%) from 5.86 to 2.16 (<.001). Conclusion: These findings identify the probable benefit of the inclusion of a stress reduction program into an interdisciplinary program for the reduction of symptoms relative to Temporomandibular disorders and the need for the identification of these symptom patterns in a stress referral population.

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