Primary headaches in patients with generalized anxiety disorder

The Journal of Headache and Pain

Original

Márcio A. Bernik¹  Juliane P. P. Mercante²  Mario F. P. Peres³ 

[1] Anxiety Disorders Program, Institute of Psychiatry, HC-FMUSP, Sao Pãulo, Brazil;Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, Institute of Teaching and Research, São Paulo, Brazil;Anxiety Disorders Program, Institute of Psychiatry, HC-FMUSP, Sao Pãulo, Brazil;Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, Institute of Teaching and Research, São Paulo, Brazil;Rua Maestro Cardim, 887, Paraíso, CEP 01323-001, São Paulo, SP, Brazil;Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, Institute of Teaching and Research, São Paulo, Brazil;Unifesp, EPM, São Paulo, Brazil;

关键词: Migraine;    Anxiety disorders;    Generalized anxiety disorder;    Comorbidity;   

DOI  :  10.1007/s10194-010-0290-4

 received in 2010-11-15, accepted in 2010-12-29,  发布年份 2011

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

Although anxiety disorders and headaches are comorbid conditions, there have been no studies evaluating the prevalence of primary headaches in patients with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). The aim of this study was to analyze the lifetime prevalence of primary headaches in individuals with and without GAD. A total of 60 individuals were evaluated: 30 GAD patients and 30 controls without mental disorders. Psychiatric assessments and primary headache diagnoses were made using structured interviews. Among the GAD patients, the most common diagnosis was migraine, which was significantly more prevalent among the GAD patients than among the controls, as were episodic migraine, chronic daily headache and aura. Tension-type headache was equally common in both groups. Primary headaches in general were significantly more common and more severe in GAD patients than in controls. In anxiety disorder patients, particularly those with GAD, accurate diagnosis of primary headache can improve patient management and clinical outcomes.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s) 2011