Association between Temporomandibular Dysfunction and Depression in People Living with HIV/AIDS

Background: The origin of temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD) is complex and associates with several factors, including emotional states, such as depression, currently considered one of the main etiological factors of TMD. Objective: to measure the prevalence of temporomandibular dysfunction and its association with the degree of depression in people living with HIV/AIDS. Method: cross-sectional, descriptive, exploratory, quantitative study, developed through the application of Fonseca’s instrument for evaluation of TMD and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) in people living with HIV/AIDS from the Expert Assistance Service (EAS). For data analysis, one used Fisher's exact test with statistical significance level p<0.05. Results: The study enrolled 32 subjects, of whom the majority had brown color (65.63%), incomplete elementary school (43.75%), was single (56.25%), with income lower than or equal to the minimum wage ( 87.5%), had mild TMD diagnosis (53.13%), associated with mild degree of depression (40.63%). Conclusions: there was a prevalence of Depression and Temporomandibular Dysfunction in the majority of the sample, and a significant association between those two diseases. It is necessary nursing interventions in health education and early detection of the signs and symptoms of those diseases in that population.