Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is defined as a set of signs and symptoms affecting the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and/or the masticatory muscles, with pain being the most common symptom, impacting approximately 50 to 60% of the population. TMD’s can be influenced by psychological factors, such as exaggerated and negative thoughts about pain, known as catastrophizing, that can significantly intensify the perception of pain, leading to a worsening of the clinical condition and affecting TMJ functionality.

To evaluate the relationship between pain and catastrophizing in individuals with TMD symptoms.

This is a cross-sectional observational study that assessed pain, catastrophizing, and TMJ functionality in individuals with TMD using scales such as the Numeric Rating Scale for Pain (NRS Pain) (NRSP), Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), and Jaw Functional Limitation Scale (JFLS-20). The study included individuals who reported orofacial pain for more than three months and scored above 2 points on pain screening for TMD in the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD). The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics with SPSS software version 20.0. The Shapiro-Wilk test was conducted to assess normality, and Pearson&apos;s correlation was used to evaluate the relationship between JFLS, pain, mobility, and PCS, considering a 95% confidence interval and a p-value < 0.05 to indicate significant associations.

The study included 20 participants, consisting of 14 women and 6 men, with a mean age of 33.85 years (SD = 11.05). Pain, assessed using the NRSP, had a mean score of 6.25 (SD = ±1.61). Pain-free mouth opening had a mean of 26.94 mm (SD = 8.58), while maximum mouth opening was 41.92 mm (SD = 5.70). The global JLFS score had a mean of 3.20 (SD = 1.72), and the mean mobility domain score was 2.57 (SD = 1.51). Pain catastrophizing, measured by the PCS, had a mean score of 25.25 (SD = 13.78). Significant correlations were found between PCS and JLFS-20 (r = 0.45; p < 0.05), as well as between the mobility domain of the JLFS-20 scale and PCS (r = 0.54; p < 0.05), both being positive.

The findings suggest that pain catastrophizing is strongly associated with functional limitations of the TMJ, emphasizing the need for further research to better understand this relationship and the impact of pain on mandibular function.

These results underscore the importance of multidisciplinary approaches in physiotherapy, incorporating interventions such as manual therapy, kinesiotherapy, and, most notably, pain education to mitigate catastrophizing and enhance TMJ functionality, ultimately improving clinical outcomes.