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Published on: June 2, 2014
[Achievement motivation in children with migraine and their healthy siblings]
F Haverkamp1, A Hönscheid, M Rünger
1Zentrum für Kinderheilkunde der Rheinischen Friedrich-Wilhelms Universität Bonn. f.haverkamp@uni-bonn.de
Insights
Children with migraine do not generally show impaired achievement motivation. However, a subgroup may have atypical motivation that could trigger attacks, potentially benefiting from relaxation techniques.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Psychology
Background:
- Psychosocial factors like stress and achievement motivation are implicated in migraine.
- The specific role of achievement motivation in pediatric migraine requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if children with migraine are at risk for impaired achievement motivation.
- To explore the relationship between achievement motivation and cognitive function in pediatric migraine.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 37 children with migraine and 17 non-affected siblings were assessed.
- Achievement motivation was evaluated using a specialized test and the Kaufman-Assessment-Battery for Children (K-ABC).
Main Results:
- No significant differences in achievement motivation or cognition were found between children with migraine and their siblings.
- Both groups exhibited neurocognitive performance within the average range.
- A slight positive correlation was observed between atypical achievement motivation and migraine attack duration.
Conclusions:
- Overall, children with migraine do not exhibit pathologically elevated achievement motivation.
- A subgroup of pediatric migraine patients may have atypical achievement motivation that acts as a trigger.
- This subgroup might benefit from interventions such as relaxation techniques and psychological-educational counseling.
Questions:
Psychosocial variables like stress or a high achievement motivation are discussed as a possible contributory factor to an attack in migraine. The aim of our study was to examine, whether children with migraine may be at risk for impaired achievement motivation.
Patients/Methods:
37 children with migraine and their 17 non-affected siblings, were examined by means of an especially developed test for achievement motivation and by the Kaufman-Assessment-Battery for Children (K-ABC).
Results:
There were no significant differences in achievement motivation and cognition between both groups. Children with migraine and their siblings demonstrated a neurocognitive performance within the average normal test range. There was a slight positive correlation between an atypical achievement motivation and the duration of migraine attacks.
Conclusion:
In general there are no signs of a pathologically elevated achievement motivation in children with migraine, but we found evidence that there might be a subgroup of patients, within whom an atypical achievement motivation might serve as a trigger variable, and who might profit from relaxation techniques and psychological-educational counselling.
