Headache and mood disorders

Abstract

IntroductionThe experience of pain represents not just a sensorial process, but a complex perception involving the superior levels of the central nervous system, emotional states and higher mental processes. Besides an analgesic therapy, a global approach to pain treatment also considers, in the majority of chronic pain patients, the intercurrent situational and emotional pathogenetic elements towards a multilateral intervention model.In this study, we aimed to evaluate the occurrence of mood, anxiety and disability disorders in 300 patients affected by chronic daily headache and MOH, who were observed for a 16-month period in our centre.This symptomatology necessarily recalls the correlation between somatic and psychic aspects, mind and body, medicine and psychiatry. The acknowledged comorbidity concerning pain and mood disorders should entail the association of an antalgic therapy with an adequate treatment against depression and anxiety. Epidemiological research showed that mood disorders occurred in a great number of patients affected by headache [1].A multicenter Italian study focused attention on the high comorbidity level between mood disorders and tension-type headache, determining a psychiatric comorbidity of 85% [2]. J Headache Pain (2005) -005-0199-5 Headache and mood disorders 6:250-253 DOI 10.1007/s10194 Sergio de Filippis Emiliano Salvatori Gabriella Coloprisco Paolo MartellettiAbstract The aim of the study was to estimate the occurrence of mood, anxiety and disability disorders in 300 patients affected by chronic daily headache and MOH, who were observed for a 16-month period in our centre. We monitored the patients on an interview basis, concerning the anamnestic data collection related to the pre-morbid period, information given by relatives regarding the patient's behaviour during the day, attitudes towards others, maintenance of previous interests and enjoyments, and modifications of the biological rhythm. Several tests were conducted, underlining a significant correlation between headache and mood disorders, impairment of working activity, social and family life. The study shows that patients affected by chronic daily headache and MOH present high levels of anxiety, a depressive symptomatology associated with alexithymia. Moreover, it has been discovered that anxiety and depression facilitate the onset of headache, while patients suffering from pain persistence were more vulnerable to psychiatric problems. In consideration of these results, more exhaustive evaluations relating to the psychopathological aspects in patients affected by headache are necessary.

Effect of Biofeedback-assisted Autogenic Training on Headache Activity and Mood States in Korean Female Migraine Patients

“…They also exhibited significant differences in their mood states measured by the HAM-A, HAM-D, STAI-S, as compared with the normal healthy women. This finding is consistent with the results of previous studies which showed that migraine patients had high levels of anxiety and depression ( 12 , 14 , 22 ). It is also consistent with a previous report ( 23 ) that negative mood states such as anxiety and depression are related to physical complaints and headache.…”

Social problem‐solving, perceived stress, depression and life‐satisfaction in patients suffering from tension type and migraine headaches

“…Scientific evidence shows that psychiatric co-morbidity is high in persons suffering from headache disorders (Filippis, Salvatori, Coloprisco & Martelletti, 2005;Kececi, Dener & Analan, 2003;Pompili, Cosimo, Innamorati, Lester, Tatarelli & Martelletti, 2009;€ Oyekc ßin, Sarıkaya, Duraklı & Erol, 2007;Radat & Swendsen, 2004;Villani, Bruti, Mostardini et al, 2005). Depression and anxiety are the two most common psychiatric diagnoses in headache patients.…”

Mental turmoil, suicide risk, illness perception, and temperament, and their impact on quality of life in chronic daily headache

“…They found a higher prevalence of anxiety and mood disorders in patients with MOH (as assessed through the DSM-IV MINI interview) during the phase of transformation of migraine into MOH. A study by De Filippis et al [ 7 ] showed that patients with chronic daily headache and those with MOH both show high levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms associated with alexithymia. Furthermore, the same study showed that anxiety and depression facilitated the onset of headache whereas, in some patients, the persistence of the pain rendered the patient more vulnerable to the onset of psychiatric symptoms.…”