Our results provide support for the hypothesis that STX1A represents a susceptibility gene for migraine.

Genetic epidemiological twin studies have demonstrated a significant heritability for migraine, with > 60% of liability to migraine either with or without aura coming from additive genetic factors. Because of the essential role of serotonin in the pathophysiology and treatment of migraine, genes of the serotonin system are candidates for involvement in migraine. Consequently, we examined two functional VNTR polymorphisms in the serotonin transporter gene, the 5-HTTLPR and the intron 2 VNTR, in a sample of 212 family trios each with a proband with childhood migraine, 153 with migraine without aura (MoA) and 59 with migraine with aura (MA). For the first time, we used transmission disequilibrium test analysis with the program TDTPHASE to examine the transmission of these two markers and their haplotypes to offspring affected by migraine. We found no significant transmission distortion of any marker, with the common L allele of the 5-HTTLPR transmitted 170 times and not transmitted 178 times, and the S allele 130 vs. 122 times. Likewise, the common 12 allele of the intron 2 VNTR was transmitted 201 times and not transmitted 188 times, and the 10 allele 107 vs. 120 times. The markers were not associated with MoA and MA and none of the haplotypes was associated with overall migraine, MoA or MA. The 5-HTTLPR and the intron 2 VNTRs do not play a major role in susceptibility to migraine.

Purpose – The migration background can influence the life satisfaction of migrants. The purpose of this paper is to examine the life satisfaction of migrants and particularly the satisfaction regarding their health in comparison to natives. Design/methodology/approach – The life satisfaction of 50 Turkish-speaking migrants living in Vienna was compared with the life satisfaction of 50 native Austrians by the questionnaire of life satisfaction by Fahrenberg et al. (2000). Findings – Turkish-speaking migrants had lower values than natives in all scales of the questionnaire concerning life satisfaction. Turkish-speaking women reported the lowest satisfaction regarding their health state. In the migrant group the satisfaction regarding health decreased with increasing age. Research limitations/implications – The Turkish version of the questionnaire was translated into Turkish by authors but not formally validated. Furthermore acculturation strategies as well as the mental and physical health state of the participant, which can crucially influence the life satisfaction of migrants, were not surveyed. Practical implications – Migrants have lower life satisfaction possibly because of their physical and mental health problems. Therefore in countries with a high proportion of migrants the health-care system should be adapted for the needs of migrants, especially for the needs of women and older migrants in order to increase the utilization of the health-care services, primarily the use of the preventive health-care services. Social implications – The results of the present study can be helpful to develop strategies for improving the life satisfaction of migrants, especially the satisfaction regarding their health. Originality/value – To the authors’ knowledge, the present study is the first research project in Vienna conducted to estimate the impact of migration background on life satisfaction.

Because of the role of dopamine in triggering migraine attacks, genes of the dopamine system are candidates for involvement in migraine. We examined three VNTR polymorphisms in the dopamine transporter, the 5'UTR VNTR, the intron 8 VNTR and the intron 14 VNTR, in a sample of 205 family trios. We used the transmission disequilibirium test (TDT) to examine the transmission of these three markers and their haplotypes to offspring affected by migraine. We found no significant transmission distortion of any marker. Likewise haplotypes of the three markers did not show significant overall or individual association with migraine. Finally we examined migraine with and without aura, and likewise found no association between dopamine transporter VNTRs or their haplotypes and either classification of the disease. We conclude that functional genetic variation in the dopamine transporter does not act as a significant risk factor for migraine.

Objectives Research on participatory medical decision making in children is still scarce. At the same time, there is broad consensus that involving young patients in decision making processes increases their adherence to medical procedures and reduces anxiety. Thus, this cross-sectional study's objective was to assess mothers', fathers', and children's evaluation of the child's decisional competence in the context of psychosomatic and psychiatric care and test for possible predictors of competence such as illness perception, health-related quality of life (HrQoL), socioeconomic status, gender, and age. Methods Fifty-four families (mother, father, child triads; total N = 143) completed self-report questionnaires. Age of the children ranged from 6-16 (M = 11.68, SD = 2.74; 43% female), and the majority had a diagnosis of hyperkinetic, depressive or pervasive developmental disorders. 80% of children were German native speakers, and 27-37% of parents had a university degree. Results Findings show that parents rate the consequences of the child's illness as more severe and report to understand it better than the child. Also, children indicate the proposed age for autonomous decision making as lower (13.55 years) than their parents (15.63, 16.58). Furthermore, age of child, mother, and father, HrQoL, illness coherence, and emotional illness representation emerged as significant predictors of the decisional competence subscales understanding, autonomy, decision making, and attitudes. Conclusions This study demonstrates the importance of considering all parties in shared decision making. Future research is challenged to more comprehensively evaluate contributing factors to achieve a more valid picture of children's decisional competence.