Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Association Between Cardiovascular Stress Responsivity and Perceived Stress Among Subjects with Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Temporomandibular Joint Disorder: A Preliminary Analysis

  • Published:
International Journal of Stress Management

Abstract

This study sought to evaluate the association between perceived and cardiovascular stress responsivity among subjects with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Temporomandibular Disorder (TMJ). Eight participants with IBS, eight participants with TMJ and 16 nonsymptomatic comparison participants took part in the experiment. Participants completed a series of personality and mood questionnaires as well as a laboratory procedure measuring aerobic fitness, cardiovascular responses (i.e., pulse rate and blood pressure), and perceived stress while performing stressful laboratory tasks (i.e., the Stroop Color Naming Test and a speech task). Although IBS and TMJ participants did not vary significantly from comparison participants in blood pressure or heart rate during the laboratory procedures, IBS and TMJ participants reported experiencing the laboratory tasks as more stressful than comparison participants. Although preliminary due to the small sample size, results suggest that IBS and TMJ sufferers may be more sensitive to perceived stress than others.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  • American Academy of Head, Neck and Facial Pain (1999). [Online] Available: http:// www.ahnfp.org/tmdtgi.html [1999 August 1].

  • American Academy of Orofacial Pain. (1993). Temporomandibular disorders: Guidelines for classification, assessment, and management. Chicago: Quintessence.

    Google Scholar 

  • American Red Cross (1993). Adult CPR. St. Louis: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bennett, P., & Wilkinson, S. (1985). Comparison of psychological and medical treatment of the irritable bowel syndrome. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 24, 215–216.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blanchard, E. B. (1993). Irritable bowel syndrome. In R. J. Gatchel & E. B. Blanchard (Eds.), Psychophysiological disorders: Research and clinical applications (pp. 23–62). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blanchard, E. B., Radnitz, C., Evans, D. D., Schwarz, S. P., Neff, D. F., & Gerardi, M. A. (1986). Psychological comparisons of irritable bowel syndrome to chronic tension and migraine headache and non-patient controls. Biofeedback and Self-Regulation, 11, 221–230.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blanchard, E. B., Scharff, L., Schwarz, S. P., Suls, J. M., & Barlow, D. H. (1990). The role of anxiety and depression in the irritable bowel syndrome. Behavior Research and Therapy, 28, 401–405.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blanchard, E. B., Schwarz, S. P., & Radnitz, C. R. (1987). Psychological assessment and treatment of irritable bowel syndrome. Behavior Modification, 11, 348–372.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boutcher, S. H., & Nugent, F. W. (1993). Cardiac response of trained and untrained males to a repeated psychological stressor. Behavioral Medicine, 19, 21–27.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bruce, R. A. (1971). Exercise testing of patients with coronary heart disease. Annals of Clinical Research, 3, 323.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, T. (1992). A power primer. Psychological Bulletin, 112, 155–159.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crowne, D. P., & Marlowe, D. (1960). A new scale of social desirability independent of psychopathology. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 24, 349–354.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dancey, C. P., Taghavi, M., & Fox, R. J. (1998). The relationship between daily stress and symptoms of irritable bowel: A time series approach. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 44, 537–545.

    Google Scholar 

  • Derogatis, L. R. (1977). SCL-90-R Manual-I. Baltimore: Clinical Psychometric Research.

    Google Scholar 

  • Drossman, D. A., McKee, D. C., Sandler, R. S., Mitchell, C. M., Cramer, E. M., Lowman, B. C., & Burg, A. L. (1988). Psychosocial factors in the irritable bowel syndrome: A multivariate study of patients with irritable bowel syndrome. Gastroenterology, 95, 701–708.

    Google Scholar 

  • Drossman, D. A., Li, Z., Andruzzi, E., Temple, R. D., Talley, N. J., Thompson, W. G., Janssens, J., Funch-Jensen, P., Corazziari, E., Richter, J. E., & Koch, G. G. (1993). US Householder Survey of Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders: Prevalence, sociodemography, and health impact. Digestive Diseases and Sciences, 38, 1569–1580.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dworkin, S. F. (1999). Temporomandibular disorders: A problem in dental health. In R. J. Gatchel & D. C. Turk (Eds.)., Psychosocial factors in pain: Clinical perspectives (pp. 213–226). New York: Guilford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dworkin, S. F., Huggins, K. H., LeResche, L., Von Korff, M., Howard, J., Truelove, E., & Sommers, E. (1990). Epidemiology of signs and symptoms in temporomandibular disorders: Clinical signs in cases and controls. Journal of the American Dental Association, 120, 273–281.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dworkin, S. F., Wilson, L., & Massoth, D. L. (1994). Somatizing as a risk factor for chronic pain: A dynamic-ecological perspective. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 14, 3–11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flor, H., Birbaumer, N., Schulte, W., & Roos, R. (1991). Stress-related electromyographic responses in patients with chronic temporomandibular pain. Pain, 46, 145–152.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flor, H., Schugens, M. M., & Birbaumer, N. (1992). Discrimination of muscle tension in chronic pain patients and healthy controls. Biofeedback and Self-Regulation, 17, 165–177.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fourtney, D. (1991). Earth dance. Forest Knolls, CA: David Fortney Productions.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fowlie, S., Eastwood, M.A., & Ford, M.J. (1992). Irritable bowel syndrome: The influence of psychological factors on the symptom complex. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 36, 169–173.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grambling, S. E., Neblett, J., Grayson, R., & Townsend, D. (1996). Temporomandibular disorder: Efficacy of an oral habit reversal treatment program. Journal of Behavioral Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 27, 245–255.

    Google Scholar 

  • Greene, B., & Blanchard, E. B. (1994). Cognitive therapy for irritable bowel syndrome. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 62, 576–582.

    Google Scholar 

  • Helmers, K. F., & Krantz, D. S. (1996). Defensive hostility, gender and cardiovascular levels and responses to stress. Annal of Behavioral Medicine, 18, 246–254.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, D. A., Rollman, G. B., & Brooke, R. I. (1997). The cortisol response to psychological stress in temporomandibular dysfunction. Pain, 72, 171–182.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kapel, L., Glaros, A. G., & McGlynn, F. D. (1989). Psychophysiological responses to stress in patients with myofascial pain-dysfunction syndrome. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 12, 397–406.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kellow, J. E., Gill, R. C., & Wingate, D. L. (1990). Prolonged ambulant recordings of small bowel motility demonstrate abnormalities in the irritable bowel syndrome. Gastroenterology, 98, 1208–1218.

    Google Scholar 

  • Laskin, D. M. (1969). Etiology of the pain-dysfunction syndrome. Journal of the American Dental Association, 79, 147–153.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lefcourt, H. M., Davidson, K., Shepherd, R., Phillips, M., Prkachin, K., & Mills, D. (1995). Perspective-taking humor: Accounting for stress moderation. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 14, 373–391.

    Google Scholar 

  • Letson, S., & Dancey, C.P. (1996). Nurses' perception of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and sufferers of IBS. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 23, 969–974.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levine, B. S., Jarrett, M., Cain, K. C., & Heitkemper, M. M. (1997). Psychophysiological response to a laboratory challenge in women with and without diagnosed irritable bowel syndrome. Research in Nursing and Health, 20, 431–441.

    Google Scholar 

  • Light, K. C. (1981). Cardiovascular responses to effortful active coping: Implications for the role of stress in hypertension development. Psychophysiology, 18, 216–225.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lynch, P. M., & Zamble, E. (1989). A controlled behavioral treatment study of irritable bowel syndrome. Behavior Therapy, 20, 509–523.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCreary, C. P., Clark, G. T., Merril, R. L., Flack, V., & Oakley, M. E. (1991). Psychological distress and diagnostic subgroups of temporomandibular disorder patients. Pain, 43, 29–34.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mealiea, W. L., & McGlynn, F. D. (1987). Temporomandibular disorders and bruxism. In J. P. Hatch, J. G. Fisher, & J. D. Rugh (Eds.), Biofeedback: Studies in clinical efficacy (pp. 123–151). New York: Plenum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neff, D. F., & Blanchard, E. B. (1987). A multicomponent treatment for irritable bowel syndrome. Behavior Therapy, 18, 70–83.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paradine, P., & Napoli, A. (1983). Physiological reactivity and recent life-stress experience. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 56, 467–469.

    Google Scholar 

  • Payne, A., Blanchard, E. B., Holt, C. S., & Schwarz, S. P. (1992). Physiological reactivity to stressors in irritable bowel syndrome patients, inflammatory bowel disease patients and nonpatient controls. Behavior Research and Therapy, 30, 293–300.

    Google Scholar 

  • Plante, T. G., Chizmar, L., & Owen, D. (1999). The contribution of perceived fitness to physiological and self reported responses to laboratory stress. International Journal of Stress Management, 6, 5–19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Plante, T. G., & Karpowitz, D. (1987). The influence of aerobic exercise on physiological stress responsivity. Psychophysiology, 24, 670–677.

    Google Scholar 

  • Plante, T. G., Lawson, C., Kinney, F., & Mello, K. (1998). Physiological stress responsivity and perceived stress among subjects with irritable bowel syndrome. Journal of Applied Biobehavioral Research, 3, 96–109.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rudy, T. E., Turk, D. C., Kubinski, J. A., & Zaki, H. S. (1995). Differential treatment responses of TMD patients as a function of psychological characteristics. Pain, 61, 103–112.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rugh, J. D., & Solberg, W. K. (1976). Psychological implications of temporomandibular pain and dysfunction. Oral Science Review, 7, 3–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schwarz, S. P., Blanchard, E. B., Berreman, C. F., Scharff, L., Taylor, A. E., Greene, B. R., Suls, J. M., & Malamood, H. S. (1993). Psychological aspects of irritable bowel syndrome: Comparisons with inflammatory bowel disease and non-patient controls. Behavior Research and Therapy, 31, 297–304.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shapiro, D., Jamner, L. D., Lane, J. D., Light, K. C., Myrtek, M., Sawada, Y., & Steptoe, A. (1996). Blood pressure publication guidelines. Psychophysiology, 33, 1–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Southwell, J., Dreary, I. J., & Geissler, P. (1990). Personality and anxiety in temporomandibular joint syndrome patients. Journal of Oral Rehabilitation, 17, 239–243.

    Google Scholar 

  • Svedlund, J., Sjodin, I., Ottosson, J. O., & Dotevall, G. (1983). Controlled study of psychotherapy in irritable bowel syndrome. Lancet, 2, 589–592.

    Google Scholar 

  • Talley, N. J., Phillips, S. F., Wiltgen, C. M., Zinsmeister, A. R., & Melton, L. J., III. (1990). Assessment of functional gastrointestinal disease: The bowel disease questionnaire. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 65, 1456–1479.

    Google Scholar 

  • Talley, N. J., Phillips, S. F., Zinsmeister, A. R., & Melton, L. J. (1990). Prevalence of functional bowel disease: A random community survey. Gastroenterology, 98 (Suppl. 1), A396.

    Google Scholar 

  • Talley, N. J., Zinsmeister, A. R., Van Dyke, C., & Melton, L. J. (1991). Epidemiology of colonic symptoms and the irritable bowel syndrome. Gastroenterology, 101, 927–934.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thayer, R. E. (1967). Measurement of activation through self-report. Psychological Reports, 20, 663–678.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thayer, R. E. (1978). Factor analytic and reliability studies on the Activation-Deactivation Adjective Check List. Psychological Reports, 42, 747–756.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thayer, R. E. (1986). Activation-Deactivation Adjective Check List: Current overview and structural analysis. Psychological Reports, 42, 747–756.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weinberger, D. A. (1991). Social-emotional adjustment in older children and adults: I. Psychometric properties of the Weinberger Adjustment Inventory. Unpublished Manuscript. Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whitehead, W. E. (1996). Psychosocial aspects of functional gastrointestinal disorder. Gatroenterology Clinicas of North America, 25, 21–34.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whitehead, W. E., Bosmajian, L., Zonderman, A. B., Costa, P. T., & Schuster, M. M. (1988). Symptoms of psychologic distress associated with irritable bowel syndrome: Comparison of community and medical clinic samples. Gastroenterology, 95, 709–714.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whitehead, W. E., Crowell, M. D., Robinson, J. C., Heller, B. R., & Schuster, M. M. (1992). Effects of stressful life events on bowel symptoms: Subjects with irritable bowel syndrome compared with subjects without bowel dysfunction. Gut, 33, 825–830.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, L., Dworkin, S. F., Whitney, C., & LeResche, L. (1994). Somatization and pain dispersion in chronic temporomandibular pain. Pain, 57, 55–61.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wright, J., Dreary, I. J., & Geissler, P. R. (1991). Depression, hassles and somatic symptoms in mandibular dysfunction syndrome patients. Journal of Dentistry, 19, 352–356.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zarb, G. A., & Carlsson, G. E. (1979). Temporomandibular joint function and dysfunction. Copenhagen, Denmark: Munksgaard.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. Thomas G. Plante
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Maire Ford
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Plante, T.G., Ford, M. The Association Between Cardiovascular Stress Responsivity and Perceived Stress Among Subjects with Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Temporomandibular Joint Disorder: A Preliminary Analysis. International Journal of Stress Management 7, 103–119 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009532218126

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009532218126

Search

Navigation