Comparison of patients with migraine and tension-type headache in terms of somatosensory amplification and health anxiety

Abstract

Although it is known that anxiety and depressive disorders frequently accompany migraine and TTH, the role of somatic amplification (SSA) and health anxiety in these diseases is not adequately known. Objective: The aim of this study is to compare SSA and health anxiety in patients with migraine or TTH, and healthy controls and to investigate the relationships between SSA, health anxiety, headache characteristics, anxiety and depressive symptoms. Methods: Fifty-four migraine, 50 TTH patients from the outpatient unit of the neurology department and 53 healthy volunteers were recruited for the study. The somatosensory amplification scale (SSAS), health anxiety inventory, Beck depression (BDI) and anxiety inventory (BAI) were administered to all participants. Results: The SSAS scores were significantly higher in migraineurs compared with the healthy controls. The health anxiety scores were significantly higher in both migraine and TTH groups. The BDI and BAI scores were also significantly higher in migraine and TTH groups compared with the controls. A significant positive correlation was found between headache frequency and BAI scores, the visual analogue scale scores and SSAS and BDI scores in migraineurs. The SSAS scores were also significantly correlated with the BDI and BAI scores in both of the headache groups. A similar correlation was determined with the health anxiety scores. Conclusions: While patients with migraine and TTH evalute, taking into account the SSA and health anxiety may contribute to the prognosis and treatment of these diseases.

Primary headaches among gender dysphoric female‐to‐male individuals: A cross‐sectional survey on gender transition experience

“…Nonetheless, both BDI scores (vs. TTH) and BAI scores (vs. TTH and no headache) were notably higher in patients with migraine, supporting that migraine is often accompanied by psychiatric disorders, of which anxiety and depression are the most widely known and extensively studied. 17,[54][55][56] Indeed, given the longer headache days, higher NRS scores, and headache severity during daily activities as well as higher rate of ER admissions in patients with migraine versus in patients with TTH, our findings are also consistent with previous studies, which reported a relationship of BAI and BDI scores with frequency of episodes and NRS scores in patients with cisgender migraine. 17,57,58 In migraine, the role of testosterone has not been well studied.…”

“…BAI is a 21-item, self-reported questionnaire to measure the severity of anxiety during the past week. 37 Each item is scored from 0 to 3, and based on the total score (range 0-63), individuals are categorized to have severe anxiety (scores 26-63), moderate anxiety (scores [16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25], mild anxiety (scores 8-15), and minimal level of anxiety (scores 0-7). 38 A reliable and valid Turkish form is available.…”

“…15,16 Migraine and tension-type headache (TTH) are the most common causes of headache, and both have a predilection for the female sex. 15,[17][18][19] Given the well-known impact of sex hormones on migraine, with the higher prevalence in women during the reproductive years due to the effects of estrogen, migraine is considered likely to be affected by hormones used for gender affirmation. 20 Accordingly, both feminizing and masculinizing hormone replacement therapies are considered to be associated with potential alterations in migraine frequency among gender dysphoric individuals.…”

“…Headache is considered as the third most common cause of disability worldwide affecting nearly half of the world's population, whereas it still remains underestimated, underdiagnosed, and undertreated 15,16 . Migraine and tension‐type headache (TTH) are the most common causes of headache, and both have a predilection for the female sex 15,17–19 . Given the well‐known impact of sex hormones on migraine, with the higher prevalence in women during the reproductive years due to the effects of estrogen, migraine is considered likely to be affected by hormones used for gender affirmation 20 .…”

Somatosensory amplification, health anxiety and pain catastrophizing in individuals with chronic musculoskeletal system pain

“…Somatosensory amplification was studied in major depressive disorder, hypochondriasis, asthma, fibromyalgia syndrome and migraine patients with chronic pain (4,16). In migraine patients experiencing chronic pain, somatosensory amplification levels were higher compared to the healthy controls (25). Similarly, somatosensory amplification levels were high in FMS patients (4).…”