Association between psychosocial factors and periodontitis

Abstract EN

Background : research has suggested that psychological factors that play a role in the development and progression of periodontal disease.

It is not clear, however, whether these factors lead to periodontal disease through physiological or behavioral changes, or by some combination of the two.

This study investigated the association of anxiety and depression with periodontal disease.

Material and Methods : A total of 150 subjects took part in this study.

Probing depth and clinical attachment level were recorded at four sites per tooth and the gingival and plaque indices were also recorded.

The instruments used to assess the psychological variables were: the Beck Anxiety Inventory, State–Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Beck Depression Inventory.

Results : Mean probing depth and clinical attachment level were 6.32 ± 0.80 and 5.81 ± 1.61in the case group and 1.98 ± 0.71and 1.12 ± 0.87 in the control group, respectively.

Positive association of periodontitis with age (odds ratio (OR) 1.16 95 % confidence interval (CI) : 1.01–1.21) and plaque index (OR 2.15,CI : 1.07–4.69) was confirmed.

Analysis did not demonstrate significant mean differences in anxiety symptoms, trait or state of anxiety, or depression symptoms between cases and controls.

Multivariate logistic regression demonstrated no significant association between psychosocial factors and periodontal disease.

Conclusion : within the limits of this study it is possible to conclude that there was no significant association between periodontitis and the psychosocial factors analyzed.

The association of periodontal disease to depression and anxiety should be investigated in psychiatric populations, especially in those with depression and anxiety disorders.