Anxiety and Depression as Co-morbidities in Patients with Primary Headache

Abstract

Introduction: Headache is a common neurological disorder and psychiatric comorbidity is very common in primary headache in which anxiety and depression is more common. Data of patients presenting with primary headache and psychiatric comorbidity is scanty in Nepal. The aim of the study was to study the socio-demographic and clinical profile of patients with primary headache, and to study the frequency and pattern of anxiety and depression as comorbidities among these patients.Material and Method: The study was done at the headache clinic in the Department of Psychiatry at Devdaha Medical College and Research Institute, Rupandehi, Nepal. All out-patients attending our clinic over a period of six months (January 2017-June 2017) with a diagnosis of primary headache were included in the present study. Demographic and clinical profiles of these patients were noted in a specially designed socio-demographic and clinical data sheets prepared for the present study.Results: Among the total patients (N=150), 86 (57.3%) were in the age group 20-39 years. Majority 118 (78.7%) cases were female while 32 (21.3%) cases were male patients. 69.3% cases had migraine headache and 28.7%cases had tension type headache. Comorbid psychiatric illness was present in 80 (53.33%) cases among which Anxiety disorder was the most common diagnostic category (31.3%) followed by depressive disorders (22.0%).Conclusion: Anxiety and depression (53.3%) as comorbid disorder is prevalent among those presenting with primary headache and anxiety spectrum disorder was more than depressive disorder.J Psychiatrists’ Association of Nepal Vol. 6, No. 2, 2017

Psychiatric Morbidities in Patients With Primary Headache

“…Another study done by Sharma 17 , in patients with Tension Type headache, majority (32.5%) have passed matriculation exam, followed by those in intermediate level. Also study done by Kafle et al 18 showed 34.7% of the people with secondary level education status which was the maimum number followed by primary school level (23.3%).…”

“…Studies done in TUTH by Sharma 17 showed 62.5% females and study done by Khalid et al 23 showed 61.92% female predominance. Study done by Kafle et al 18 showed 78.7% of the sufferers were female.…”

“…Another study done by Sharma, 17 showed headache to be common in age group 21-25 (25%) followed by 26-30 (22.5%). A study done by Kafle et al 18 showed most patients were from age 20 to 39 years (57.3%).…”

“…Majority of the cases in this study were housewives (29.3%) followed by service holders (25.3%) and least were unemployed (4%). Study done by Kafle 18 showed 56.7% of the patients worked as homemakers followed by 12% farmers. Koseoglu et al 34 did a study where he found that tension type headache was more prevalent in housewives than working women.…”

“…17 Another study has also showed that anxiety and depression as comorbid disorder among those presenting with Primary Headache in Nepal. 18 Primary types of headaches are the most common types of problem reported in the OPD by the patients hence it is necessary for a proper study in this matter. The high prevalence of Primary Headache and its effects on work productivity, quality of life and socio-economic condition is a matter to be focused on.…”