Original scientific paper

MYOFASCIAL PAIN OF THE HEAD AND NECK AMONG CROATIAN WAR VETERANS TREATED FOR DEPRESSION AND POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER

Bruno Vidaković ; Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, General Hospital “Dr. Josip Benčević”, Slavonski Brod, Croatia
Ivana Uljanić ; Department of Oral Surgery, School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Berislav Perić ; Department of Oral Surgery, School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Jakša Grgurević ; Department of Oral Surgery, School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Zdenko Sonicki ; Department of Medical Statistics, Epidemiology and Medical Informatics, School of Public Health “Andrija Štampar”, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

Background: During the Croatian War of Independence, 1991-1995, Croatian soldiers were exposed to traumatic and stressful
events. Certain number of soldiers who took part in the war, developed depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Stress
is one of the etiological factors in the development of myofascial pain (MPS), although the mechanism of these processes is not
entirely understood. The aims of this study were to determine the frequency of myofascial pain among Croatian war veterans with
depression and PTSD, association between MPS and severity of depression, to describe the most common locations of trigger points
in the region of head and neck, and to find out if there is any association in frequency between MPS and endotracheal intubation.
Subjects and methods: A total of 101 Croatian war veterans suffering from PTSD and depression participated in the current
study. Diagnosis of myofascial pain was based on detailed anamnestic history and careful clinical examination.
Results: Our findings showed a high rate of myofascial pain among Croatian war veterans, with occipital region and right
temporal region as the most common places of trigger points. Higher severity of depression was accompanied by a higher
percentage of subjects with MPS. Finally, there was no significant association between endotracheal intubation and development of
MPS among the war veterans.
Conclusions: It can be concluded that the rate of myofascial pain among Croatian war veterans is high and therefore it must be
considered in patients with depression and PTSD. Moreover, the severity of depressive symptomatology seems to be related to the
presence of myofascial pain.

Keywords

myofascial pain - trigger points – depression – PTSD - war veterans

Hrčak ID:

154760

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/154760

Publication date:

29.3.2016.

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