Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 30, 2026
10:39
3D-Neuronavigation In Vivo Through a Patient's Brain During a Spontaneous Migraine Headache
Published on: June 2, 2014
Stress and psychological factors before a migraine attack: a time-based analysis
Masahiro Hashizume1, Ui Yamada, Asako Sato
1Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Toho University, 6-11-1 Omorinishi, Ota-ku, Tokyo, 143-8541, Japan. hashi2@med.toho-u.ac.jp
Biopsychosocial Medicine
|September 19, 2008
Summary
Daily hassles, not overall stress, were highest in the days leading up to a migraine. While psychological factors increased on migraine days, pre-migraine stress levels were not significantly elevated compared to other days.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Psychiatry
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Migraine headaches are a common neurological disorder.
- Understanding pre-migraine triggers is crucial for effective management.
- Previous research suggests a link between stress and migraine onset.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate stress and mood changes in Japanese individuals 1-3 days before a migraine.
- To compare psychological factors on pre-migraine days with migraine, buffer, and control days.
Main Methods:
- 16 migraine patients kept daily headache diaries for two weeks.
- Subjects used visual analog scales to rate stress, hassles, anxiety, and irritability.
- Days were categorized as migraine, pre-migraine, buffer, or control days for analysis.
Main Results:
- Daily hassles were highest on pre-migraine days, significantly more than buffer days.
- Non-domestic stress was elevated on migraine days but not significantly different on pre-migraine days.
- Psychological factors were higher on migraine days than pre-migraine days, with little difference in sleep quality.
Conclusions:
- Psychosocial stress may play a role in migraine occurrence.
- Pre-migraine stress in this Japanese cohort was lower than reported in Western studies.
- No significant differences in psychological factors were found between pre-migraine and other days.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Panic Disorder
Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder characterized by recurrent and sudden minutes-long episodes of intense fear, known as panic attacks. These attacks may feel like heart attacks and often happen without warning or a specific cause. They can include symptoms such as rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, chest pain, trembling, sweating, dizziness, and a sense of helplessness. During a panic attack, individuals may feel as though they are experiencing a heart attack or are in a...
01:20Psychological Responses to Stress
Psychological responses to stress encompass the various cognitive and emotional reactions individuals experience when faced with challenging or threatening situations, such as a job loss. Prolonged exposure to stressors can disturb emotional balance, increasing negative emotions (e.g., anxiety and sadness) and diminishing positive emotions (e.g., joy and satisfaction). These persistent emotional shifts are associated with an increased risk of both physical illness and mental health issues, such...
01:27Psychoneuroimmunology: Cardiovascular Disease
Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) is a multidisciplinary field that examines how psychological factors, particularly stress, interact with the immune system and impact physical health. Research in PNI has shown that chronic or traumatic stress can disrupt both the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the sympathetic nervous system. These disruptions contribute to serious health conditions, including cardiovascular diseases.
A key area of focus in PNI is the relationship between stress and coronary...
A key area of focus in PNI is the relationship between stress and coronary...
01:27Introduction to Stress and Lifestyle
Stress is a multifaceted response to events perceived as challenging or threatening, highlighting physical, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral reactions. Physically, stress can lead to fatigue, sleep disruptions, and various health issues such as frequent colds, chest pains, and nausea. Emotionally, it can manifest as anxiety, depression, irritability, and anger triggered by both minor and major life events. Cognitively, it may result in difficulty in concentration, memory, and...
01:23Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques II
Personality types, particularly Type A and Type B, significantly influence how individuals respond to stress. These personality distinctions are marked by varying levels of ambition, competitiveness, and coping styles, all of which shape an individual's resilience to stressors.
Type A Personality: Driven and Easily Stressed
Individuals with Type A personalities are often highly competitive and ambitious and operate with a strong sense of urgency. Commonly labeled as "workaholics," they...
Type A Personality: Driven and Easily Stressed
Individuals with Type A personalities are often highly competitive and ambitious and operate with a strong sense of urgency. Commonly labeled as "workaholics," they...
01:30Stress and Mental Health
Chronic stress profoundly affects mental health, significantly influencing mood, behavior, and overall quality of life. Research closely links chronic stress with mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. Ongoing exposure to stress can lead to physiological and psychological changes, initiating a cycle of emotional distress and maladaptive coping mechanisms.
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...