Migraines, or headaches, are characterized by recurrent headaches and are considered among the most common nervous system conditions. “Bars” on the forehead, pain in the eyes, tension in the neck, migraines, depending on their violence and frequency, can become very disabling for those who suffer from them. Already in the past, migraines have been associated with emotional disturbances. Researchers from Taiwan’s National Defense Medical Center looked specifically at anxiety and depression. Their results appeared in the Journal of Head and Face Pain.
The study involved 588 patients regularly suffering from headaches. These were classified by frequency of attack and according to different variables. The scientists investigated whether migraine frequency (1-4 per month, 5-8 per month, 9-14 per month, or more than 14 per month) was associated with more pronounced symptoms of depression or anxiety. Their sleep was also measured for the duration of the experiment.
Migraine, sleep, depression: everything is linked
Patients with symptoms of anxiety and depression suffered more often from headache. The study also found that those who didn’t sleep well were likely to get headaches more frequently. There would therefore be a link between the frequency of migraines, the severity of anxiety and depression and lack of sleep.
No real explanation has yet been provided. The researchers nevertheless noted that factors such as emotional distress and headache frequency may influence each other through a common pathophysiological mechanism. For example, strong emotional responses would have the potential to alter the perception of pain and modulate it through certain neurological signaling pathways. “These results potentially suggest that a treatment Medicine intended to reduce the frequency of headaches may also decrease the risk of depression and anxiety in migraine patients,” the authors conclude.
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