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Dream-enacting behaviour is associated with impaired sleep and severe headache-related disability in migraine

Keisuke Suzuki1, Tomoyuki Miyamoto, Masayuki Miyamoto

  • 1Department of Neurology, Dokkyo Medical University, Japan.

Cephalalgia : an International Journal of Headache
|February 27, 2013
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Dream-enacting behaviors (DEB) are more common in migraine patients, correlating with worse sleep quality and greater headache disability. This suggests a link between migraine, sleep issues, and potential brainstem dysfunction.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Migraine is associated with sleep disturbances, nightmares, and visual hallucinations.
  • The potential link between migraine and REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the clinical associations of dream-enacting behaviors (DEB) in individuals with episodic migraine.
  • To compare the prevalence of DEB in migraine patients versus headache-free controls.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional, case-control study involving 161 episodic migraine patients and 140 headache-free controls under 50 years of age.
  • Utilized the Japanese version of the RBD screening questionnaire to identify DEB (score ≥ 5).

Main Results:

  • Dream-enacting behaviors (DEB) were significantly more frequent in migraine patients (24.2%) than in controls (14.3%).
  • Migraine patients with DEB reported higher scores on the Migraine Disability Assessment and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and a higher smoking rate.
  • No significant differences in migraine duration, headache frequency, or intensity were found between migraine patients with and without DEB.

Conclusions:

  • Dream-enacting behaviors (DEB) are linked to poorer sleep quality and increased headache-related disability in migraine sufferers.
  • The presence of DEB in migraine may indicate underlying brainstem dysfunction and heightened brain excitability.
Keywords:
Migrainedream-enacting behaviourrapid eye movement sleep behaviour disordersleep disorders

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