Symptoms of depression and anxiety, and screening for mental disorder in migrainous patients

SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY, AND SCREENING FOR MENTAL DISORDER IN MIGRAINOUS PATIENTS (ABSTRACT)^*. DISSERTATION . PORTOALEGRE, 1999.

FERNANDO KOWACS^**

Introduction. Many publications describe the existence of association between migraine and depression and anxiety disorders. The purpose of this study was the assessment of variability and frequency of symptoms of depression, anxiety, and non-specific psychiatric disorder among patients with migraine, compared to normal subjects and to individuals with a non-neurological chronic disease.

Method. A controlled cross-sectional study was carried out in which 178 individuals (migraine 51; psoriasis 35; normal 92) were submitted to the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (symptoms of depression), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Trait Form (symptoms of anxiety) and Self-report Questionnaire (screening for mental disorder). The subjects with migraine and psoriasis were from the Outpatient Clinics of Headache and of Dermatology, and the normal volunteers were persons who accompany outpatients in the same hospital (Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre). Scores were analyzed by MANOVA, with control to gender, age, and educational level, by association analysis, and by logistic regression.

Results. Scores of all instruments were higher in migrainous group, but the univariate analysis of association (using cutoffs) showed significance only for suspicion of mental disorder (SRQ). By logistic regression, variables with strongest association to migraine were gender, education, and SRQ in a decreasing order.

KEYWORDS: migraine, depression, anxiety, mental disorder.

**Address: Avenida João Obino 285, 90470-150 Porto Alegre RS, Brasil. E-mail: f [e-mail]

*

Avaliação de sintomas depressivos, de ansiedade e de transtorno mental inespecífico em pacientes portadores de migrânea (Resumo). Dissertação de Mestrado, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (Área: Clínica Médica). Orientadora: Márcia Lorena Fagundes Chaves.

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  03 Apr 2000
• Date of issue
  Mar 2000