Psychosocial factors associated with migraine and tension-type headache in medical students

Abstract

Background In our previous study of workers, blood donors and medical students, students stood out with a higher 1-year prevalence of migraine (28%) and tension-type headache (TTH) (74%). General factors associated with headache were common for all groups except low physical activity. The hypothesis of this study was therefore that a number of psychosocial factors relating to the personal sphere would better explain the high prevalence of migraine and TTH in students. Methods The study population consisted of 1042 students (719 females, 323 males, mean age 20.6, range 17-40). Headache diagnoses and associated factors were identified by direct professional semi-structured interview. We also interviewed about the following psychosocial factors: dissatisfaction with study, dissatisfaction with family life, dissatisfaction for personal reasons, bad financial situation, overwork, stress, not enough sleep, insomnia, depressed mood, anxiety, irritability, tendency towards conflicts and not being married. We report psychosocial factors associated with headache according to diagnosis and sex using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Results Several factors were significantly associated with migraine and TTH in the univariate analysis. In the multivariate analysis, two psychosocial factors were statistically significantly associated with migraine in all students: irritability (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.4-3.6) and overwork (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.4-3.5). Insomnia (2.7, 95% CI 1.1-6.9) and depressed mood (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.1-4.2) were associated with migraine only in females. Two psychosocial factors were associated with TTH: dissatisfaction with study in males (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.0-3.8) and depressed mood in females (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.0-3.5). Conclusion Psychosocial factors from the personal sphere showed significant association with migraine and TTH in students. Such factors should therefore be major targets for preventive efforts to reduce the prevalence of primary headache disorders in students.

Frequency and Pattern of Headache in Medical Residents and Non-Medical Students in a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital in North India

“…Similar triggers for headache have been shown previously. [21][22][23][24][25][26] Previous studies have also linked sleep deprivation to headaches. 27,28 Most of the medical residents undergo self-medication and only a few consult physicians for headache.…”

A prevalência de cefaleia e fatores psicossociais associados em estudantes de medicina no Ceará

“…De acordo com revisão literária feita por Galinovic et al 16 sobre cefaleia em EM, a prevalência de enxaqueca nos estudos variou de 12,20% a 40,17%; já a prevalência de CT variou de 12,20% a 44,16%, indicando o alto grau de estudantes com essas afecções. Segundo estudo de Lebedeva et al 17 , os principais fatores psicossociais associados a enxaqueca nesses universitários foram: excesso de trabalho/estudo (70%), sono insuficiente (69%), estresse (56%) e ansiedade (27%).…”

Primary headache characters and coping strategies among medical students of Umm Al-Qura University in the Western Region of Saudi Arabia

“…The psychosocial factors on medical students are major culprits. 25 Furthermore, the required physical efforts that are exerted play a major role, as physical activities are known triggers for headache episodes. 26 An additional factor that is present in specific geographic areas, including Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is the high ambient temperature.…”