I'd like to add my experience. It might give a little insight, but I really don't know what it is either. It seems to be what you're all describing.
It happened to me quite suddenly and it came on very strong. I was 22 and in college, almost 3 years back. I couldn't miss class, so I drank a cup of my mom's coffee. I hadn't had caffeine for years and she is quite resistant to it, so, in retrospect, it was pretty dumb to drink her HEAVILY caffeinated brand. It happened as I was on my way to class. I always just figured I had shocked my system but of course I really can't say for sure what happened. Instinct told me to be extraordinarily calm the next few days, and I was. I was completely blissful and the problem just persisted.
It was about a year before a full yawn was possible again, so I assumed it had to be physical. I thought it was my heart because it seems to pound "harder" or faster than usual. The problem with that is that I can't figure how a heart problem would prevent me from making a full yawn. Perhaps my heart accelerated because of my lungs? Maybe it was some kind of chemical imbalance or something regulating my system was thrown off? Nerve problem? It's just so hard to explain, and a bit weird.
I'm having many of the same frustrations as others here. The doctors performed lots of tests and had no clue. They gave me samples of all kinds of medications related to panic attacks, breathing and heart problems. It was rather disturbing, so I didn't use any of it. Most people seem to not quite get or not believe what I'm saying. It's not the desire to yawn, but the inability to yawn. My mental state effects it, but something has physically changed my biology.
When I attempt to yawn, I sometimes try to straiten out my posture, and stretch my chest. That doesn't work so much, but helps. I had already practiced meditation, and I notice a big difference in my ability to yawn when I do that. Slowing my heart rate seems to help, or generally clearing my mind. It often happens when I drive, which can be stressful I suppose, even though I often found driving as a stress reliever.
It's still with me. I just learned to adapt, and at least now I can yawn half the time instead of not-at-all.
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