Association of anxiety and depression in patients with chronic migraine

Abstract

Aim: To study the association of depression and anxiety in patients with chronic migraine leading to disability. Materials and methods: The index cases were obtained from patients attending the Neurology outpatient Department of JSS Hospital, who satisfied International Classification of Headache Disorder 3 beta criteria for diagnosis of chronic migraine. Patients were subjected to Hamilton depression and anxiety rating scales along with, Migraine Disability Assessment Questionnaire (MIDAS) for assessing disability. Results: A total of 60 patients were studied. The associated anxiety and depression symptoms were more prevalent in patients with chronic migraine which increases disability. As per MIDAS disability assessment 20% (n=12) had grade I disability, 13.3% (n=8) had grade II disability, 50% (n=30) had moderate disability and 16.7% (n=10) had severe disability. Conclusion: More prevalence of anxiety and depression was noted in patients with chronic migraine compared to international literature because of variations in study population. Treating co-existing depression and anxiety in patients with chronic migraine decreases disability and also progression to chronic migraine in patients with episodic migraine.