Study of anxiety and depressive disorders in patients with migraines
Brijesh Jasoliya, Minakshi Parikh, Aman MazumdarIntroduction:
Migraine is a highly prevalent and disabling primary headache disorder frequently associated with psychiatric comorbidities, particularly anxiety and depression. These comorbidities substantially influence migraine severity, disability, treatment outcomes, and quality of life. However, data from Indian populations remain limited. This study aims to measure the prevalence of these comorbidities in migraine patients, evaluate how they relate to migraine-related disability, and examine how sociodemographic factors influence them.
Material and Methods:
This cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care teaching hospital in Ahmedabad, India. Ninety patients diagnosed with migraine according to international classification of headache disorder (ICHD-3) criteria were included. Anxiety and depression were assessed using the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Migraine-related disability was measured using the Migraine Disability Assessment Scale (MIDAS). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 25. Pearson correlation, independent t-tests, and ANOVA were applied, with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant.
Results:
Of the 90 patients, 51.1% had significant anxiety (GAD-7 ≥10) and 41.1% had significant depression (PHQ-9 ≥10), with comorbid anxiety and depression present in 32.2%. Depression was significantly more prevalent among female patients compared to males (50% vs. 21.4%, p = 0.011). Higher MIDAS scores were significantly associated with greater severity of anxiety and depression. Associations with age and marital status were not statistically significant.
Conclusion:
Anxiety and depression are highly prevalent among patients with migraine and are strongly associated with increased migraine-related disability. Routine screening and integrated management of psychiatric comorbidities should form an essential component of migraine care.