The role of migraine-associated symptoms in the clinical picture of migraine pain

Abstract

Migraine is a disorder of multisensory integration of somatosensory, visual, auditory, olfactory stimuli, which subsequently can lead to various combinations of symptoms: headache, photophobia, phonophobia, nausea/vomiting, osmophobia.The purpose of the study: To isolate the characteristics of pain phenomenon (frequency, duration, and severity of migraine symptoms) in relation to associated symptoms in migraine patients. Materials and Methods: 94 patients with frequent episodic and chronic migraine were included in a cross-sectional study. Research methods used: clinical, descriptive, statistical. Migraine patient questionnaires were used as a research instrument. Primary data were entered into Excel programs and processed in MedCalc. Results and discussion: A statistically significant positive correlation between phonophobia and throbbing headache was observed in the conducted study. Statistically significant positive correlations were found between the duration of a migraine attack (in hours) and some migraine-related symptoms, such as: anxiety, shortness of breath. Conclusions: Thus, intensity rather than duration of headache may be the trigger for most, but not all, of the associated symptoms. This study demonstrated the clinical significance of the pain phenomenon and symptoms associated with migraine. In order to isolate the specificity of migraine attacks and elucidate their features, the study of autonomic symptoms accompanying the pain phenomenon is a particularly important part of establishing a correct diagnosis.