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Published on: June 2, 2014
Impulsivity among migraine patients: Study in a series of 155 cases
I Muñoz1, M S Hernández1, M I Pedraza2
1Servicio de Psiquiatría, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valladolid, Valladolid, España.
Introduction:
Impulsivity is a psychological phenomenon that has not been extensively studied in headache patients. We aim to assess the presence of impulsivity in patients with chronic migraine (CM) and medication overuse (MO).
Patients:
All patients examined in an outpatient headache clinic between January 2013 and March 2014 were included. Episodic migraine, CM, and MO were diagnosed according to ICHD-III beta criteria. We prospectively gathered demographic and clinical characteristics. Mood disorders were evaluated using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and impulsiveness was assessed with the Plutchik impulsivity scale.
Results:
A total of 155 patients were included (22 men, 133 women). The mean age (SD) was 38.2 (11.7) years (range, 18-70); 104 patients (67.1%) presented CM and, among them, 74 (71.1%) had MO. Of the patient total, 28.4% met criteria for anxiety, 7.1% for depression and 16.1% for impulsivity. The CM group showed higher scores for HADS-anxiety (8.5 [SD 4.5] vs. 6.4 [SD 3.6], p=0.003) and HADS-depression (4.4 [4.3] vs. 1.9 [2.3], p<0.001). Among CM cases only, scores for HADS-anxiety (9.3 [4.4] vs. 6.8 [4.3], p=0.01) and HADS-Depression (5.1 [4.6] vs. 2.7 [2.9], p=0.002) were higher in patients who also had MO. We found no associations between Plutchik scale scores or presence of impulsivity with either CM or MO.
Conclusion:
Impulsivity is a common trait in our population of migraine patients, but unlike mood disorders, it is not correlated with either CM or MO.
Insights
Impulsivity is common in migraine patients but not linked to chronic migraine or medication overuse. Mood disorders, however, are more prevalent in these headache groups.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Impulsivity is understudied in headache patients.
- Chronic migraine (CM) and medication overuse (MO) are common headache disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess impulsivity in patients with chronic migraine (CM) and medication overuse (MO).
- To investigate the correlation between impulsivity, CM, and MO.
Main Methods:
- 155 patients from a headache clinic were assessed.
- Diagnoses of episodic migraine, CM, and MO followed ICHD-III beta criteria.
- Impulsivity was measured using the Plutchik impulsivity scale; mood disorders with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).
Main Results:
- 16.1% of patients exhibited impulsivity.
- Patients with CM showed higher HADS-anxiety and HADS-depression scores.
- Impulsivity was not associated with CM or MO, unlike mood disorders.
Conclusions:
- Impulsivity is a frequent characteristic in migraine patients.
- Impulsivity does not correlate with chronic migraine or medication overuse.
- Mood disorders are more prevalent in patients with CM and MO.
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