Hypervigilance and kinesiophobia characterize distinct exploratory data-driven profiles of temporomandibular disorders

Hypervigilance and kinesiophobia have been associated with temporomandibular disorders (TMD), but their relationship with specific diagnostic profiles remains unclear. This study investigated the association between TMD diagnoses, hypervigilance, and kinesiophobia, and whether these variables could differentiate distinct clinical profiles across painful and non-painful conditions. In this multicenter cross-sectional observational study, 862 adults aged 18 to 50 years from Brazil, Chile, and Portugal were classified as controls, non-painful TMD, or painful TMD. Diagnoses were established using the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD). Hypervigilance and kinesiophobia were assessed using the Pain Vigilance and Awareness Questionnaire (PVAQ) and the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia for TMD (TSK/TMD). Statistical analyses included factor analysis of mixed data, hierarchical clustering on principal components, and partial least squares discriminant analysis, followed by multivariate and regression analyses to assess potential associations between psychosocial variables and TMD diagnoses. Among 862 participants (312 controls, 550 TMD), kinesiophobia and hypervigilance increased across groups, with the highest levels in painful TMD (p < 0.001). Unsupervised clustering identified three distinct profiles aligned with clinical presentation: controls with low psychological burden, non-painful TMD with intermediate levels, and painful TMD with elevated kinesiophobia and hypervigilance. Multivariate analyses showed associations of psychosocial variables with TMD diagnoses, with kinesiophobia consistently driving group differences, while age, gender, and pain vigilance had a moderate influence. Among TMD subgroups, joint pain was associated with higher pain vigilance and muscular TMD with higher kinesiophobia, suggesting greater clinical complexity. Higher levels of hypervigilance and kinesiophobia were associated with painful and clinical more complex TMD profiles.