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- Path: sparky!uunet!paladin.american.edu!darwin.sura.net!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!news.acns.nwu.edu!uicvm.uic.edu!u31528
- Date: Thursday, 19 Nov 1992 17:47:28 CST
- From: V.L. Grunsted <U31528@uicvm.uic.edu>
- Message-ID: <92324.174728U31528@uicvm.uic.edu>
- Newsgroups: sci.psychology
- Subject: Re: teeth grinding while sleeping
- References: <ABGxJ_gWT7@mdkc.botik.yaroslavl.su>
- <1992Nov15.114426.18636@beaver.cs.washington.edu>
- <1992Nov16.104133.20805@bas-a.bcc.ac.uk> <97823@netnews.upenn.edu>
- <92321.194001U31528@uicvm.uic.edu>
- Lines: 52
-
- In article <92321.194001U31528@uicvm.uic.edu>, V.L. Grunsted
- <U31528@uicvm.uic.edu> says:
- >
- >Some of my peer therapists and I have been doing a lit search on
- >childhood sexual abuse, and I recall running across an article that
- >talked about bruxism as one symptom of such abuse. I have the
- >article at work, and will post the citation and a brief synopsis
- >later in the week.
-
- The article is short enough, so I will post it in its entirety.
-
- From the March 1991 issue of JADA (Journal of the American Dental
- Association), Vol. 122, p. 22 ("Letters" Section):
-
- "BRUXISM AND SEXUAL ABUSE: A POSSIBLE ASSOCIATION?"
-
- It is a well-known fact that bruxism constitutes a significant
- source of periodontal disease. Considering the relatively high
- incidence of this disorder (5 percent to 20 percent), it is
- surprising that it has received so little attention, particularly
- among psychiatrists. Although the literature is replete with
- references to bruxism, its pathogenesis, in many cases, remains
- unclear. Several theories of etiology have been suggested, including
- organic, mechanical and psychological.
-
- We wish to report on bruxism among a series of patients in our
- psychotherapy practices. All the bruxists were women who had
- been the victims of incest. This is an important observation since
- individuals with histories of sexual abuse can develop an array of
- both psychiatric and physiological signs and symptoms. After a
- review of the English language literature, we were unable to find
- any references to bruxism associated with sexual abuse among
- women.
-
- Although these cases represent a small, uncontrolled sample, we
- wish to alert clinicians to the possibility that bruxism may be
- associated with sexual abuse. A more comprehensive study of these
- phenomena would be helpful in determining their validity, as well
- as an effective treatment. Indeed, a similar letter will be
- published in the psychiatric literature. We would be interested
- in knowing whether our dental colleagues have encountered a
- similar association.
-
- Marcus J. Goldman, MD
- Thomas G. Guthell, MD
- Massachusetts Mental Health Center
- Boston
-
- ---
-
- V.L. Grunsted, MSW
- <u31528@uicvm.uic.edu>
-