Journal of Psychosomatic Research
Volume 61, Issue 4 , Pages 447-451, October 2006

Accompanying symptoms and psychiatric comorbidity in migraine and tension-type headache patients

  • Franco Mongini

      Affiliations

    • Unit of Headache–Facial Pain, Department of Clinical Pathophysiology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Headache and Facial Pain Unit, Department of Clinical Pathophysiology, University of Turin, 14 Corso Dogliotti, Turin I-10126, Italy. Tel.: +39 11 6334041; fax: +39 11 6636489.
    • ,
  • Eugenia Rota

      Affiliations

    • Unit of Headache–Facial Pain, Department of Clinical Pathophysiology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
    • ,
  • Andrea Deregibus

      Affiliations

    • Unit of Headache–Facial Pain, Department of Clinical Pathophysiology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
    • ,
  • Luca Ferrero

      Affiliations

    • Unit of Headache–Facial Pain, Department of Clinical Pathophysiology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
    • ,
  • Giuseppe Migliaretti

      Affiliations

    • Department of Public Health and Microbiology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
    • ,
  • Franco Cavallo

      Affiliations

    • Department of Public Health and Microbiology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
    • ,
  • Tullia Mongini

      Affiliations

    • Unit of Headache–Facial Pain, Department of Clinical Pathophysiology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
    • ,
  • Andrea Novello

      Affiliations

    • Unit of Headache–Facial Pain, Department of Clinical Pathophysiology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy

Received 11 July 2005; accepted 21 March 2006.

Abstract 

Objective

Our objective was to assess the prevalence of accompanying symptoms of migraine and tension-type headache in patients with such conditions (both episodic and chronic) and in headache-free controls, and their relationship with depression and anxiety.

Method

A psychological assessment (Axis I, DSM-IV) was performed, and 21 accompanying symptoms were investigated in 506 patients with episodic migraine (231), chronic migraine (102), episodic tension-type headache (83), and chronic tension-type headache (90) and in 80 controls. The relationship between symptoms, headache type, and psychiatric comorbidity was analyzed.

Results

The mean number of symptoms was significantly higher in patients (n=10.3) than in controls (n=3.4). Most symptoms were significantly associated with depression and anxiety, while only some of them were significantly associated with headache, with no relevant difference among groups.

Conclusion

In headache patients, psychiatric comorbidity (compared with headache type or chronicity) seems to be more strictly associated with an increased burden of accompanying symptoms.

Keywords: Migraine, Tension-type headache, Depression, Anxiety, Accompanying symptoms

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PII: S0022-3999(06)00132-2

doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2006.03.005

Journal of Psychosomatic Research
Volume 61, Issue 4 , Pages 447-451, October 2006

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