Psychiatric comorbidity in medication overuse headache patients with pre-existing headache type of episodic tension-type headache

Medication overuse headache associated with decreased dopamine transporter availability in the medial but not in the lateral orbitofrontal cortex: a 11CFT PET/MR study

BACKGROUNDS

Dysfunction of the mesocorticolimbic dopamine system in medication overuse headache (MOH) is unknown. This study aimed to determine dopamine transporter (DAT) availability, which is sensitive to dopamine levels, in the mesocorticolimbic dopamine system in MOH patients.

METHODS

This case-control study investigated eligible MOH patients admitted to the International Headache Centre in the neurological department of Chinese PLA General Hospital between July 2018 and August 2019. All subjects underwent an integrated positron emission tomography (PET)/magnetic resonance (MR) brain scans with 11CFT, a radioligand that binds to DAT. Standardised uptake value ratio (SUVr) images were compared voxelwise between MOH patients and healthy controls (HCs). SUVr values from significantly changed regions were extracted, and partial correlation analyses with clinical measures were conducted.

RESULTS

We examined 17 MOH patients and 16 HCs. MOH patients had lower SUVr levels in the medial rather than lateral orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) than HCs (T = -5.0317, PGRF < 0.01), which showed no correlation with clinical features.

CONCLUSIONS

MOH is characterised by decreased DAT availability in the medial OFC, which might reflect compensatory downregulation due to low dopamine signalling within the mesocorticolimbic dopamine system and provide a new perspective to understand the pathogenesis of MOH.

Refractory Headaches

Medication overuse headache (MOH), new daily persistent headache (NDPH), and persistent refractory headache attributed to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) infection represent a significant burden in terms of disability and quality of life, and a challenge in terms of definition, pathophysiology, and treatment. Regarding MOH, prevention without withdrawal is not inferior to prevention with withdrawal. Preventive medications like topiramate, onabotulinumtoxinA, and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) monoclonal antibodies improve chronic migraine with MOH regardless of withdrawal. The differential diagnosis of NDPH is broad and should be carefully examined. There are no guidelines for the treatment of NDPH, but options include a short course of steroids, nerve blocks, topiramate, nortriptyline, gabapentin, CGRP monoclonal antibodies, and onabotulinumtoxinA. The persistence of headache 3 months after SARS-CoV2 infection is a predictor of poor prognosis.

Depression, Anxiety, Stress, and Health-Related Quality of Life Among Patients With Medication Overuse Headache in a Tertiary Headache Center: A Cross-Sectional Study

OBJECTIVE

The investigators examined the association of patient-related and headache-related parameters and the effect of medication overuse headache (MOH); the occurrence of depression, anxiety, and stress; and the importance of different domains of health-related quality of life in these associations.

METHODS

Eighty-three patients (women, N=72, men, N=11; mean age, 40.54 years, SD=11.58), who were first diagnosed with MOH during the study period were included in the analyses. The Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6), the 36-item Short-Form Survey (SF-36) Questionnaire for quality of life, and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales were used.

RESULTS

The findings revealed mild depression, moderate anxiety, and stress, as well as changes in all examined health domains, in the study patients (p<0.05). Risk factors were identified for higher HIT-6 scores (role functioning/physical functioning [odds ratio=0.977, p=0.024] and social functioning [odds ratio=0.963, p=0.032]); for depression (emotional well-being [odds ratio=0.928, p=0.007], social functioning [odds ratio=0.950, p=0.009], and the presence of comorbidity [odds ratio=5.417, p=0.013]); for anxiety (age [odds ratio=1.091, p=0.007], MOH duration [odds ratio=1.422, p=0.047], emotional well-being [odds ratio=0.933, p=0.012], and social functioning [odds ratio=0.943, p=0.001]); and for stress (emotional well-being [odds ratio=0.902, p<0.001]).

CONCLUSIONS

MOH has a significant negative impact on the personal, family, and social life of patients and is associated with depression, anxiety, and stress. Patients' age, duration of MOH, presence of comorbidities, and adverse effects of physical, emotional, and social dysfunction are particularly important contributors to the negative effects of MOH.

The Evolution of Medication Overuse Headache: History, Pathophysiology and Clinical Update

Medication overuse headache (MOH), the development or worsening of chronic headache resulting from frequent and excessive intake of medications used for acute treatment of headache, is a common secondary headache disorder and is associated with significant personal and societal burdens. The plausible physiologic mechanism is that chronic exposure to acute care migraine treatment leads to suppression of endogenous antinociceptive systems, consequently facilitating the trigeminal nociceptive process via up-regulation of the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) system. Recognizing and preventing its development is an integral aspect of migraine management, as medication overuse is a modifiable risk factor in the progression from episodic to chronic migraine. Over the years, MOH has been difficult to treat and has generated much controversy. Ongoing debates exist over the diagnostic criteria and treatment strategies, particularly regarding the roles of formal detoxification and preventive treatment. The arrival of the anti-CGRP monoclonal antibodies has also challenged our views of MOH and its treatment. This review outlines the evolution of MOH diagnostic criteria, presents the current understanding of MOH pathogenesis and discusses the debates over its development and treatment. Data on the efficacy of anti-CGRP monoclonal antibodies in the setting of medication overuse is also presented. These results indicate that patients with medication overuse, who are treated with these new medications, may not need to be detoxified in order to treat MOH. In light of these developments, it is likely that in the future MOH will be more readily diagnosed and treatment will result in better outcomes.

Medication overuse and drug addiction: a narrative review from addiction perspective

Chronic headache is particularly prevalent in migraineurs and it can progress to a condition known as medication overuse headache (MOH). MOH is a secondary headache caused by overuse of analgesics or other medications such as triptans to abort acute migraine attacks. The worsening of headache symptoms associated with medication overuse (MO) generally ameliorates following interruption of regular medication use, although the primary headache symptoms remain unaffected. MO patients may also develop certain behaviors such as ritualized drug administration, psychological drug attachment, and withdrawal symptoms that have been suggested to correlate with drug addiction. Although several reviews have been performed on this topic, to the authors best knowledge none of them have examined this topic from the addiction point of view. Therefore, we aimed to identify features in MO and drug addiction that may correlate. We initiate the review by introducing the classes of analgesics and medications that can cause MOH and those with high risk to produce MO. We further compare differences between sensitization resulting from MO and from drug addiction, the neuronal pathways that may be involved, and the genetic susceptibility that may overlap between the two conditions. Finally, ICHD recommendations to treat MOH will be provided herein.

The Many Faces of Medication-Overuse Headache in Clinical Practice

The management of medication-overuse headache (MOH) is multifaceted and headache experts have different views on the optimal strategy to tackle this type of secondary headache. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the literature on the management of MOH, and to highlight important considerations in the clinical evaluation of the MOH patient. Managing MOH in clinical practice starts by evaluating the headache patient with medication overuse, determining the overused drug(s), assessing the impact of headaches on the patient and assessing comorbid conditions and disorders. Withdrawal of the overused medication is the cornerstone of treatment. An inpatient or outpatient setting is chosen based on the clinical profile of the patient. There is evidence for abrupt withdrawal combined with headache preventive treatment. Bridging therapy to bring relief to withdrawal headaches and/or symptoms should be offered. Education and motivational work through multidisciplinary assessment show benefits in sustaining withdrawal and preventing relapse. Although the reversal of chronic headache after cessation of overused acute medication has been noticed worldwide, different aspects of the management of MOH, such as complete or gradual withdrawal, or preventive treatment with or without withdrawal are still debated.

Personality traits in migraine and medication-overuse headache: A comparative study

OBJECTIVES

Medication-overuse headache (MOH) is recognized as a biobehavioural disorder, warranting that both biological and psychological factors are targeted throughout treatment. A psychological factor of importance may be personality that could be used to tailor treatment if differences are found across headache diagnoses. The objectives were as follows: (a) To investigate if migraine patients and patients with MOH differed on personality traits, (b) To investigate if the two headache groups differed from a Danish normative sample, with respect to personality traits.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The NEO-Five-Factor Inventory was completed, and an age-matched cohort of episodic migraine patients (n = 94) and MOH patients (n = 94) was included. Multivariate regression models and sex-stratified comparisons were made on patients' raw scores from five personality traits; neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. The headache groups were also compared to personality traits from a Danish normative sample (n = 1032).

RESULTS

MOH females obtained significantly lower scores on extraversion (24.4 ± 4.3 vs 27.1 ± 7.2, P < 0.01), openness (23.7 ± 3.9 vs 26.2 ± 6.4, P < 0.01), and conscientiousness (28.9 ± 3.7 vs 34.6 ± 5.8, P > 0.01) as compared to female migraineurs. Males showed no differences. Compared to the normative sample, both headache groups showed a lower score on extraversion (P < 0.01). Furthermore, MOH patients had statistically significant lower scores on conscientiousness while the migraine patients had a higher score.

CONCLUSION

Results suggests some personality trait differences between migraine and MOH patients. Especially, females showed different personality traits, where the MOH females appeared more introvert and less socially orientated. If confirmed in larger studies, this information could be used in personalized treatment in clinical practice.

Personality and Personality Disorders in Medication-Overuse Headache: A Controlled Study by SWAP-200

Background

Medication-overuse headache (MOH) is a type of chronic headache, whose mechanisms are still unknown. The impact of psychological factors has been matter of debate from different perspectives. The role of personality and personality pathology in processes involved in MOH development has been advanced but was poorly studied. The hypothesis of addiction-like behaviors sustaining the drug misuse has been examined and reached contrasting findings.

Objectives

This study is aimed at detecting personality and its disorders (PDs) in MOH, with a specific attention to the addiction aspect.

Methods

Eighty-eight MOH patients have been compared with two clinical populations including 99 patients with substance use disorder (SUD) and 91 with PDs using the Shedler-Westen Assessment Procedure-200 (SWAP-200), a clinician-report tool that assesses both normal and pathological personality. MANCOVAs were performed to evaluate personality differences among MOH, SUD, and PD groups, controlling for age and gender.

Results

MOH patients were predominantly women and older. They showed lower traits of the SWAP-200's cluster A and B disorders than SUD and PD patients, who presented more severe levels of personality impairment. No differences in the SWAP-200's cluster C have been found, indicating common personality features in these populations. At levels of specific PDs, MOH patients showed higher obsessive and dysphoric traits and better overall psychological functioning than SUD and PD patients.

Conclusion

Although MOH, SUD, and PD populations have been evaluated in multiple sites with different levels of expertise, the study supported the presence of a specific constellation of personality in MOH patients including obsessive (perfectionist) and dysphoric characteristics, as well as good enough psychological resources. No similarities to drug-addicted and personality-disordered patients were found. Practitioners' careful understanding of the personality characteristics of MOH patients may be useful to provide a road map for the implementation of more effective treatment strategies and intervention programs.

Assessment of anxiety-depression levels and perceptions of quality of life in adolescents with dysmenorrhea

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to assess the anxiety-depression levels and the perceptions of quality of life, as well as the factors affecting these variables, in adolescents with dysmenorrhea.

METHODS

The participants included 60 adolescents with dysmenorrhea and 41 healthy adolescents between the ages of 12 and 18. This study used the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) for assessing the perceptions of quality of life, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) for measuring anxiety levels, and the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) for measuring depression levels.

RESULTS

It was determined that compared to healthy controls, the depression and anxiety scores were higher and the quality of life was impaired in adolescents with dysmenorrhea. In addition, it was shown that the depression and anxiety levels increased and the psychosocial health subscale scores of quality of life decreased with increasing dysmenorrhea severity. However, the likelihood of dysmenorrhea was found to be higher with increasing depression scores, while the anxiety levels had no effect on dysmenorrhea.

CONCLUSION

In dysmenorrhea management, it is important to enhance awareness among pediatric clinicians and gynecologists regarding the associations between dysmenorrhea and mental problems.

Depression and insomnia are independently associated with satisfaction and enjoyment of life in medication-overuse headache patients

Objective Medication-overuse headache is often comorbid with emotional disturbances and disordered personality traits. The aim of the present study was to determine whether depression and insomnia complaints were associated with satisfaction and enjoyment with one's own life in medication-overuse headache patients, and whether insomnia complaints were able to explain part of the variance of Quality of Life explained by depression. Methods Participants were 187 consecutive adult outpatients admitted to the Regional Referral Headache Centre of the Sant'Andrea Hospital in Rome, Italy. Patients were administered the Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire, the Beck Depression Inventory - II, and the Athens Insomnia Scale. Results The Beck Depression Inventory was associated with all the dimensions of the Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire, with more severe depression being associated independently with lower satisfaction and enjoyment with one's own life. The Athens Insomnia Scale was independently and significantly associated only with physical health, such that patients with more insomnia complaints were 3.1 times ( p < 0.001) more likely to report lower physical health satisfaction. Conclusions Our findings confirmed that medication-overuse headache patients has a negative impact on quality of life and suggested that depression and insomnia were independently associated with satisfaction and enjoyment of life in medication-overuse headache patients. The early recognition and appropriate treatment of comorbid psychopathological symptoms are crucial to improve satisfaction and enjoyment of life in medication-overuse headache patients.

Medication-overuse headache: a perspective review

Medication-overuse headache (MOH) is a debilitating condition in which frequent and prolonged use of medication for the acute treatment of pain results in the worsening of the headache. The purpose of this paper is to review the most recent literature on MOH and discuss future avenues for research. MOH accounts for a substantial share of the global burden of disease. Prevalence is often reported as 1-2% but can be as high as 7% overall, with higher proportions among women and in those with a low socioeconomic position. Management consists of withdrawing pain medication, focusing on prophylactic and nonmedical treatments, and limiting acute symptomatic medication. Stress reduction and lifestyle interventions may support the change towards rational pain medication use. Support, follow up, and education are needed to help patients through the detoxification period. There is fertile ground for research in MOH epidemiology, pathophysiology, and neuroimaging. Randomized and long-term follow-up studies on MOH treatment protocols are needed. Further focused research could be of major importance for global health.

A Systematic Review of Personality Disorders and Health Outcomes

Personality disorders have been associated with a wide swath of adverse health outcomes and correspondingly high costs to healthcare systems. To date, however, there has not been a systematic review of the literature on health conditions among individuals with personality disorders. The primary aim of this article is to review research documenting the associations between personality disorders and health conditions. A systematic review of the literature revealed 78 unique empirical English-language peer-reviewed articles examining the association of personality disorders and health outcomes over the past 15 years. Specifically, we reviewed research examining the association of personality disorders with sleep disturbance, obesity, pain conditions, and other chronic health conditions. In addition, we evaluated research on candidate mechanisms underlying health problems in personality disorders and potential treatments for such disorders. Results underscore numerous deleterious health outcomes associated with PD features and PD diagnoses, and suggest potential biological and behavioural factors that may account for these relations. Guidelines for future research in this area are discussed.

Clinical and Demographical Characteristics of Patients with Medication Overuse Headache in Argentina and Chile: Analysis of the Latin American Section of COMOESTAS Project

BACKGROUND

Data on the characteristics of Medication Overuse Headache (MOH) in Latin American (LA) are scarce. Here we report the demographic and clinical features of the MOH patients from Argentina and Chile enrolled in the multinational COMOESTAS project in the period 2008-2010.

METHODS

The LA population was formed by 240 MOH subjects, 110 from Chile and 130 from Argentina, consecutively attending the local headache centres. In each centre, specifically trained neurologist interviewed and confirmed the diagnosis according to the ICHD-II criteria. A detailed history was collected on an electronic patient record form.

RESULTS

The mean patient age was 38.6 years, with a female/male ratio of 8:2. The mean time since onset of the primary headache was 21 years, whereas duration of MOH was 3.9 years. The primary headache was migraine without aura in 77.5 % and migraine with aura in 18.8 %. Forty two % of the patients self-reported emotional stress associated with the chronification of headache; 43.8 % reported insomnia. The most overused medications were acute drug combinations containing ergotamine (70 %), NSAIDs (33.8 %) and triptans (5.4 %).

CONCLUSION

Though little described, MOH is present also in LA, where it affects mostly women, in the most active decades of life. Some differences emerge as regards the demographic and clinical characteristics of MOH in this population as compared to Europe or Northern America. What seems more worrying about MOH in Argentina and Chile is that most patients overuse ergotamine, a drug that may cause serious adverse events when used chronically. These findings once more underscore the importance of properly diagnose and treat MOH.

Correlation Between Life Events and Quality of Life in Patients with Medication-Overuse Headache

INTRODUCTION

The present study aimed to determine (a) the correlation between type and number of stressful life events and quality of life in patients with medication-overuse headache (MOH) and (b) whether stressful life events could be attributed to medication overuse and the conversion of headache to a chronic type.

METHODS

The present study included 114 patients aged between 15 and 65 years who met the criteria for headache classification of International Headache Society (IHS). The patients were divided into three groups according to the revised 2004 IHS classification; MOH (n=64), chronic migraine (n=25) and episodic migraine (n=25). Detailed data on clinical and sociodemographic characteristics were recorded. Neurological and physical examinations were performed for differential diagnosis. The patients underwent structured clinical interviews for DSM-IV Inventory (SCID-I), Beck Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory, Short Form-36 (SF-36) and Life Events List. Scores of these inventories were statistically compared.

RESULTS

Comparing MOH group with episodic migraine group via SF-36, statistically significant decreases were observed in the subscales of physical role limitation (p=.024), pain (p=.0001), general health (p=.043) and social functioning (p=.004). There was a statistically significant correlation between the number of life events and the time the disease became chronic in the patient group with non-MOH chronic migraine (p=.027). Moreover, a statistically significant correlation was observed between stressful family life events and the body pain subscale of quality of life scale (p=.038).

CONCLUSION

The present study demonstrates that stressful life events impair quality of life in patients with MOH. It was also found that number of stressful life events could be attributed to the conversion of headache to a chronic type.

Sodium valproate in migraine without aura and medication overuse headache: a randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

To assess the efficacy, safety and tolerability of sodium valproate (800mg/die) compared with placebo in medication-overuse headache patients with a history of migraine without aura.

METHODS

This is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study enrolled medication-overuse headache patients for a 3-month treatment period with sodium valproate (800mg/day) or placebo after a 6 day outpatient detoxification regimen, followed by a 3-month follow-up. Primary outcome was defined by the proportion of patients achieving ≥50% reduction in the number of days with headache per month (responders) from the baseline to the last 4 weeks of the 3-month treatment. Multivariate logistic regression models were used on the primary endpoint, adjusting for age, sex, disease duration, comorbidity and surgery. The last-observation-carried-forward method was used to adjust for missing values.

RESULTS

Nine sites enrolled 130 patients and, after a 6-day detoxification phase, randomized 88 eligible patients. The 3-month responder rate was higher in the sodium valproate (45.0%) than in the placebo arm (23.8%) with an absolute difference of about 20% (p=0.0431). Sodium valproate had safety and tolerability profiles comparable to placebo.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study supports the efficacy and safety of sodium valproate in the treatment of medication overuse headache with history of migraine after detoxification.

Medication overuse headache

BACKGROUND

Medication overuse headache (MOH) affects between 1% and 2% of the general population but is present in up to 50% of patients seen in headache centers. There are currently no internationally accepted guidelines for treatment of MOH.

METHODS

A review of the current literature on MOH treatment and pathophysiology.

RESULTS

We conclude that headache frequency can be reduced to episodic headache in more than 50% of the patients by simple detoxification and information. Approximately half the patients will not have need for prophylactic medication after withdrawal. Pain perception is altered in patients with MOH but can be restored to a baseline pattern, indicating a reversible mechanism in the central sensitization leading to chronic pain. The great comorbidity with depression and anxiety could be a consequence of the altered serotonin metabolism indicating a reversible and potentially treatable condition.

CONCLUSION

Increased focus on MOH is extremely important, as MOH both can and should be treated and prevented. MOH is thus a diagnosis that should be considered in all chronic headache patients as the very first step in their management strategy. In the general population, prevention campaigns against MOH are essential to minimize chronic pain disability.

Personality traits, personality disorders, and migraine: a review

The personality trait of neuroticism has been associated with migraine, although research is needed to clarify potential moderators of this relationship and the extent to which neuroticism reflects a stable disposition or instead is a function of general somatic distress or situational influences. With the possible exception of harm avoidance, research has not consistently identified any other personality trait unique among migraineurs. Personality disorders have been researched less extensively, but existing data suggests that borderline personality disorder, in particular, is associated with increased negative impact of migraine, risk for medication overuse, and poor response to treatment that is likely of greater clinical importance than any personality trait per se.

Cephalalgiaphobia as a feature of high-frequency migraine: a pilot study

BACKGROUND

Cephalalgiaphobia is the fear of having a headache attack during a pain-free period that may induce patients to use analgesic in the absence of pain to prevent headache and to improve their performances. This study aims at assessing if cephalalgiaphobia is related to migraine frequency or medication overuse, and if it is per se a predictor of increase in migraine frequency.

METHODS

This is a pilot prospective cohort study on 126 consecutive migraineurs referred to a tertiary Headache Centre. A headache specialist collected data regarding migraine features, frequency and medications at baseline (T0) and 2 years later (T1). Cephalalgiaphobia was investigated at T0 and T1 through a score determined by a 4 items questionnaire.

RESULTS

Moderate-high migraine frequency was associated with higher risk of cephalalgiaphobia (p < 0.001). Chronic migraineurs with medication overuse had higher score of cephalalgiaphobia than those without medication overuse (p < 0.001). Patients with increased migraine frequency between T0 and T1 had higher cephalalgiaphobia score (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Cephalalgiaphobia may represent a high-frequency migraine feature and may play a role in chronicization. Therefore, it should be better investigated by clinicians and treated or prevented in order to reduce the risk of disability and the increase in migraine frequency.

Personality traits in chronic daily headache patients with and without psychiatric comorbidity: an observational study in a tertiary care headache center

Background

Previous studies suggest that patients with Chronic Daily Headache (CDH) have higher levels of anxiety and depressive disorders than patients with episodic migraine or tension-type headache. However, no study has considered the presence of psychiatric comorbidity in the analysis of personality traits. The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of psychiatric comorbidity and specific personality traits in CDH patients, exploring if specific personality traits are associated to headache itself or to the psychiatric comorbidity associated with headache.

Methods

An observational, cross-sectional study. Ninety-four CDH patients with and without medication overuse were included in the study and assessed by clinical psychiatric interview and Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I.) as diagnostic tools. Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) were afterwards administered. Patients with and without psychiatric comorbidity were compared. Further analyses were made by splitting the whole group according to the headache diagnosis and the presence or not of medication overuse.

Results

Psychiatric comorbidity was detected in 44 patients (46.8%) (group A) and was absent in the remaining 50 patients (53.2%) (group B). Mood and anxiety disorders were the most frequently diagnosed (43.6%).

In the overall group, mean scores of MMPI-2 showed a high level in the so-called neurotic triad; in particular the mean score in the Hypochondriasis subscale was in the pathologic area (73.55 ± 13.59), while Depression and Hysteria scores were moderate but not severe (62.53 and 61.61, respectively). In content scales, score in Health Concern was also high (66.73).

Group A presented higher scores compared to Group B in the following MMPI-2 subscales: Hypochondriasis (p = .036), Depression (p = .032), Hysteria (p < .0001), Hypomania (p = .030). Group B had a high score only in the Hypochondriasis subscale. No significant differences were found between chronic migraine (CM)-probable CM (pCM) plus probable medication overuse headache (pMOH) and chronic tension-type headache (CTTH)-probable CTTH (pCTTH) plus pMOH patients or between patients with and without drug overuse.

Conclusions

The so-called “Neurotic Profile” reached clinical level only in CDH patients with psychiatric comorbidity while a high concern about their general health status was a common feature in all CDH patients.

Prevalence of medication overuse headache in an interdisciplinary pain clinic

Background

Medication overuse headache (MOH) has been recognized as an important problem in headache patients although the pathophysiological mechanisms remain unclear. The diagnosis of MOH is based on clinical characteristics defined by the International Headache Society. The aim was the evaluation of the diagnostic criteria of MOH in a mixed population of chronic pain patients to gain information about the prevalence and possible associations with MOH.

Methods

Data of all patients referred to the interdisciplinary pain clinic at the University Hospital of Zurich between September 2005 and December 2007 were retrospectively analyzed. Demographic data (age, sex, history of migration), as well as data about duration of pain disease, category of pain disease (neurological, psychiatric, rheumatologic, other), use of medication, history of trauma, and comorbidity of depression and anxiety have been collected.

Results

Totally 178 of 187 consecutive chronic pain patients were included in the study. A total of 138 patients (78%) used analgesics on 15 or more days per month. Chronic headache was more prevalent among patients with analgesic overuse (39.8%) than without analgesic overuse (18%). The prevalence of MOH was 29%. The odds ratio (OR) for a patient with medication overuse to have chronic headache was 13.1 if he had a history of primary headache, compared to a patient without a primary headache syndrome. Furthermore, history of headache (OR 2.5, CI [1.13;5.44]), history of migration (OR 2.9, CI [1.31;6.32]) and comorbid depression (OR 3.5, CI [1.46;8.52]) were associated with overuse of acute medication, in general.

Conclusions

Primary headaches have a high risk for chronification in patients overusing analgesics for other pain disorders. Whereas history of headache, history of migration and comorbidity of depression are independentely associated with analgesic overuse in this group of patients.

Quality of life, depression, and anxiety 6 months after inpatient withdrawal in patients with medication overuse headache: an observational study

OBJECTIVES

Patients with medication overuse headache (MOH) experience decreased quality of life (QoL) and increased psychiatric comorbidity. We performed an observational study in patients with MOH to assess whether QoL (primary outcome parameter), depression, and anxiety (secondary outcome parameters) improve after inpatient withdrawal therapy.

METHODS

Forty-two patients undergoing the usual regimen established for inpatient withdrawal therapy at our department completed a structured questionnaires (the Short Form-36 health survey, Self-Rating Depression Scale, and Self-Rating Anxiety Scale) immediately before inpatient withdrawal. Six months after withdrawal, they were examined again with the same questionnaires.

RESULTS

Thirty-two patients (27 female) aged 46.8±9.4 years could be interviewed twice. At baseline, QoL was decreased compared with normative data (z-scores ranging from -1.2 to -2.0). Depression was present in 65.6% and anxiety disorder in 71.9% of the patients. At follow-up, physical QoL (P<0.001) and mental QoL (P=0.019) had improved, but QoL was still impaired (z-scores ranging from -0.3 to -1.3). Depression and anxiety scores had decreased significantly. Poor mental QoL and high scores of depression and anxiety at baseline correlated with frequent headaches at follow-up (P=0.013, P=0.024, and P=0.008, respectively).

DISCUSSION

QoL is impaired in patients with MOH, and many patients are depressed and anxious. Inpatient withdrawal therapy lead to a statistically significant improvement of QoL, depression, and anxiety. Poor baseline mental QoL as well as depression and anxiety are associated with poor outcome in terms of headache frequency.

Dependent behavior in patients with medication-overuse headache

Two thirds of patients with medication-overuse headache (MOH) fulfilled criteria for dependence on acute symptomatic treatments for pain, not exclusive of psychoactive medications, based on the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Several questionnaires have been used to assess dependent behavior in patients with MOH. Findings regarding underlying psychological profiles of dependence and MOH are not consistent. Nevertheless, several neuroimaging, genetic, and neurobiological studies support the existence of the common pathophysiological features of dependence and MOH and suggest a link between them. This review highlights recent studies on the relationship between dependence and MOH. This issue is important because it implies a treatment strategy in managing patients with MOH by providing the treatment of dependence.

Psychiatric comorbidity and response to preventative therapy in the treatment of severe migraine trial

INTRODUCTION

Mood and anxiety disorders are comorbid with migraine and commonly assumed to portend a poor response to preventive migraine therapies. However, there is little evidence to support this assumption.

METHOD

We examined impact of a mood and/or anxiety disorder diagnosis using American Psychiatric Association Diagnostic and Statistical Manual criteria on response to the three preventative migraine therapies evaluated in the Treatment of Severe Migraine trial (n = 177): β-blocker, behavioral migraine management, or behavioral migraine management +β-blocker. Daily diaries assessed migraine activity for the 16 months of the trial. The Migraine Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire and Headache Disability Inventory assessed headache-related disability at regular intervals. Mixed models for repeated measures examined changes in these three outcomes with preventative migraine therapy in participants with and without a mood or anxiety disorder diagnosis.

RESULTS

Participants with a comorbid mood or anxiety disorder diagnosis recorded larger reductions in migraine days (p < .05) and larger reductions in the Migraine Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (p < .001) and Headache Disability Inventory (p < .01) than did participants with neither diagnosis.

DISCUSSION

Significantly larger reductions in migraine activity and migraine-related disability were observed in participants with a mood and/or anxiety disorder diagnosis than in participants who did not receive either diagnosis.

Differences in the personality profile of medication-overuse headache sufferers and drug addict patients: a comparative study using MMPI-2

BACKGROUND

Medication-overuse headache (MOH) refers to headache attributed to excessive use of acute medications. The role of personality needs studies to explain the shifting from drug use to drug abuse. The main aim of this study is to study personality, according to Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, comparing MOH, episodic headache, substance addicts (SA) vs healthy controls.

METHODS

Eighty-two MOH patients (mean age 44.5; 20 M, 62 F) and 35 episodic headache (mean age 40.2; 8 M, 27 F), were compared to 37 SA (mean age 32.5; 29 M, 8 F) and 37 healthy controls (mean age: 32.49; 20 M, 17 F). International Classification of Headache Disorders 2nd Edition criteria were employed. Chi-square test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and post hoc comparisons were used for statistics.

RESULTS

MOH patients scored higher on Hypochondriasis, Depression (only females), Hysteria (only females) (P < .000). MOH did not show higher scores than episodic headache or healthy controls in dependency scales, while SA did.

CONCLUSION

The data obtained show that MOH and SA do not share common personality characteristics linked to dependence. Although further studies are needed to understand if such a difference is related to instrumental characteristics or to yet undiscovered psychobiological characteristics of MOH patients; however, we hypothesize that the detected difference may rely on the fact that drug dependence in the 2 groups is promoted by entirely different needs: pleasure seeking in the SA group, pain avoidance in the MOH group.

Personality traits and psychological distress in persons with chronic tension-type headache. The Akershus study of chronic headache

OBJECTIVES

To explore the relationship between chronic tension-type headache (CTTH) and psychological factors (personality traits and psychological distress) in a population-based sample and to determine the influence of headache frequency and medication days.

METHODS

An age- and sex-stratified random sample of 30,000 persons aged 30-44 years from the general population received a mailed questionnaire. Those with a self-reported chronic headache were interviewed by neurological residents. The questionnaire response rate was 71%, and the rate of participation in the interview was 74%. The International Classification of Headache Disorders was used. Personality traits were assessed by the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ), neuroticism and lie scale, and level of psychological distress, by the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 (HSCL-25). For comparison, cross-sectional data from the Danish and the Norwegian general population using the same instruments were used.

RESULTS

Persons with CTTH had a significantly higher neuroticism score and a significantly higher level of psychological distress than the general population. Headache- or medication days per month had no significant influence on the neuroticism- and lie scores or the HSCL-25 score.

CONCLUSIONS

Persons with CTTH have a high level of neuroticism and psychological distress. This can be either a primary or a secondary effect related to the premorbid psyche or caused by the chronic pain and is a question that future studies should address.

Team players against headache: multidisciplinary treatment of primary headaches and medication overuse headache

Multidisciplinary approaches are gaining acceptance in headache treatment. However, there is a lack of scientific data about the efficacy of various strategies and their combinations offered by physiotherapists, physicians, psychologists and headache nurses. Therefore, an international platform for more intense collaboration between these professions and between headache centers is needed. Our aims were to establish closer collaboration and an interchange of knowledge between headache care providers and different disciplines. A scientific session focusing on multidisciplinary headache management was organised at The European Headache and Migraine Trust International Congress (EHMTIC) 2010 in Nice. A summary of the contributions and the discussion is presented. It was concluded that effective multidisciplinary headache treatment can reduce headache frequency and burden of disease, as well as the risk for medication overuse headache. The significant value of physiotherapy, education in headache schools, and implementation of strategies of cognitive behavioural therapy was highlighted and the way paved for future studies and international collaboration.

Headache attributed to psychiatric disorders

The association between psychiatric illness and headache is widely recognized. "Headache attributed to psychiatric disorder" is a new category of secondary headache introduced in the 2004 revision of the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-II) (Headache Classification Subcommittee of the International Headache Society, 2004). It represents a new, but not conclusive, step toward a better systematization of the topic "headache and psychological factors." From the early 1990s the involvement of psychological factors in headache disorders has been clearly identified as "psychiatric comorbidity." The current conceptualization of the term implies an association, more than casual, but likely not causal, between an index disease or disorder and one or more coexisting physical or psychological pathologies. Additionally, clarifying the direction, meaning, and weight of comorbidities has pathophysiological, nosological, course, and treatment implications. However, the study of comorbidity may present a series of difficulties related to the current understanding of the etiology and pathophysiology of diseases at the center of our attention. Sometimes, as happens in the subject of headache, we proceed against a background where many issues need to be clarified. In this chapter, we analyze the past and current literature, tracing the line from "migraine personality" to "psychiatric comorbidity" to "headache attributed to psychiatric disorders." Questions related to etiology, pathophysiology, and treatment options are discussed for different headache subtypes.

Headache attributed to a substance or its withdrawal

Medication overuse, and subsequent medication overuse headache (MOH), is a growing and still underestimated problem worldwide. A significant number of recent epidemiological studies suggest that up to 4% of the general population in Europe, North America, and Asia overuse analgesics and other drugs for the treatment of pain conditions such as migraine. These studies also provide convincing evidence that about 1% of the general population suffers from MOH. The condition can be caused by almost all antiheadache drugs, including analgesics, ergots, triptans, and combined preparations. The clinical symptoms of MOH are heterogeneous and may vary from just an increase in headache attack frequency to a constant holocranial pain over years. The International Headache Society (IHS) defined MOH in its first classification in 1988 but modified the diagnostic criteria in its second classification in 2004 to facilitate diagnosis and the conduct of clinical trials. The underlying pathophysiology of MOH is not well understood. The only therapy is withdrawal from the overused substances. The only strategy to reduce the prevalence of MOH is to prevent the development of MOH in the first place by clear restriction of monthly doses of antiheadache drugs and constant education of both patients and physicians prescribing or recommending antiheadache drugs.

Migraine and psychiatric disorders: comorbidities, mechanisms, and clinical applications

Migraine is often comorbid with psychiatric disorders such as major depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety disorders. Although most of the research on psychiatric comorbidities and migraine is of an epidemiologic nature, a growing body of literature has investigated possible mechanisms underlying this relationship, such as medication overuse, serotonergic dysfunction, ovarian hormone fluctuations, and central sensitization. The present article overviews this growing literature and notes strategies for the clinical management of migraine patients with psychiatric comorbidities.

Psychiatric comorbidity in patients with chronic daily headache and migraine: a selective overview including personality traits and suicide risk

Studies on the prevalence and impact of psychiatric disorders among headache patients have yielded findings that have clarified the relationship between migraine and major affective disorders, anxiety, illicit drug abuse, nicotine dependence, and suicide attempts. Studies in both clinical and community-based settings have demonstrated an association between migraine and a number of specific psychiatric disorders. In large-scale population-based studies, persons with migraine are from 2.2 to 4.0 times more likely to have depression. In longitudinal studies, the evidence supports a bidirectional relationship between migraine and depression, with each disorder increasing the risk of the other disorder. Although a strong association has been demonstrated consistently for migraine and major depression, especially for migraine with aura, there has been less systematic research on the links between migraine and bipolar disorder. This review will focus on the way in which psychiatric disorders decrease the quality of life and result in a worse prognosis, chronicity of the disease, and a worse response to treatment. Short-term pharmaceutical care intervention improves the patients' mental health, but it does not significantly change the number and severity of headaches. The increase in self-efficacy and mental health associated with pharmaceutical care may be instrumental in improving the long-term pharmacotherapy of patients with migraine and headache.

Combined Pharmacological and Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy for Probable Medication Overuse Headache: A Pilot Study

We studied the effects of short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy (STPP) and pharmacological therapy in 26 consecutive patients with probable medication overuse headache (pMOH). Patients underwent a standard in-patient detoxification protocol, lasting a mean of 7 days. Eleven patients overused non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), five a combination of NSAIDs and triptans, four triptans, four a combination of NSAIDs, and three triptans and ergot derivates. Preventive therapy was initiated during detoxification. The STPP protocol comprised the Brief Psychodynamic Investigation (BPI) and psychoanalysis-inspired psychotherapy. All patients (groups A and B) underwent the BPI and pharmacological therapy. Half of the patients (group B) also not randomly underwent psychoanalysis-inspired psychotherapy. We found a significant interaction between time and group for headache frequency and medication intake. At 12-month follow-up, a statistically greater decrease in headache frequency and medication intake was observed in group B than in group A ( P = 0.0108 and P = 0.0097, respectively). The relapse rate was much lower in group B patients at both 6 and 12 months [15.3%, odds ratio (OR) 0.11, P = 0.016, and 23%, OR 0.18, P = 0.047, respectively] than in group A. The risk of developing chronic migraine (CM) during follow-up was higher in group A than in group B at 6 (OR 2.0, P = 0.047) and 12 months (OR 2.75, P = 0.005). Our study suggests that STPP in conjunction with drug withdrawal and prophylactic pharmacotherapy relieves headache symptoms in pMOH, reducing both long-term relapses and the burden of CM.

Characteristics of mood disorders in Japanese patients with medication-overuse headache

OBJECTIVE

The importance of psychiatric comorbidity in migraine has long been recognized. There is a growing body of evidence that these psychiatric comorbidities share diverse epidemiological properties, pathophysiological mechanisms, and treatment response. The prevalence of psychiatric comorbidities is high in patients with medication-overuse headache (MOH).

METHODS

To understand the characteristics of mood disorders in MOH in Japanese patients, we studied and evaluated the characteristics of psychiatric comorbidities in MOH.

RESULTS

The results suggested that mood disorders in MOH are similar to those in endogenous depression but different from those of secondary mood disorders associated with other diseases. Suspicion of depression and intervention are essential for providing medical care for patients with MOH.

CONCLUSION

Affective disorders diagnosed in migraine patients might later progress to MOH. In contrast, migraine patients without MOH and healthy subjects had a similar prevalence of mood disorders.

Mental turmoil, suicide risk, illness perception, and temperament, and their impact on quality of life in chronic daily headache

To evaluate the relationship among quality of life, temperament, illness perception, and mental turmoil in patients affected by chronic daily headache with concomitant medication overuse headache. Participants were 116 consecutive adult outpatients admitted to the Department of General Medicine of the Sant'Andrea Hospital in Rome, between January 2007 and December 2007 with a diagnosis of chronic daily headache (illness duration >5 years). Patients were administered the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego-autoquestionnaire version (TEMPS-A), the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D), the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), the Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ), the Suicide Score Scale (SSS), and the Quality of Life Index (QL-Index). Twenty-eight percent of the patients evidenced moderate to severe depression, and 35% evidenced severe hopelessness. Analyses also indicated that quality of life, temperament, illness perception, and psychological turmoil are associated. However, a hierarchical multivariate regression analysis with quality of life as dependent variable indicated that only a model with mental turmoil variables may fit data; further, only the MINI suicidal intent resulted associated with quality of life (standardized regression coefficient = -0.55; t = -3.06; P < 0.01). Suicide risk may play a central role in affecting the quality of life of patients with chronic headache. The investigation of the interplay of factors that precipitate suicide risk should include assessment of chronic headache and its effects on wellbeing.

Are headache and temporomandibular disorders related? A blinded study

To investigate overlaps between headache and temporomandibular disorders (TMD) in a clinical headache population and to describe the prevalence of TMD in headache patients, 99 patients referred to a specialized headache centre were diagnosed according to Research Diagnostic Criteria for TMD (RDC/TMD) and classified in headache groups according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders, second edition for headache diagnoses in a blinded design. The prevalence of TMD in the headache population was 56.1%. Psychosocial dysfunction caused by TMD pain was observed in 40.4%. No significant differences in TMD prevalence were revealed between headache groups, although TMD prevalence tended to be higher in patients with combined migraine and tension-type headache. Moderate to severe depression was experienced by 54.5% of patients. Patients with coexistent TMD had a significantly higher prevalence of depression-most markedly in patients with combined migraine and tension-type headache. Our studies indicate that a high proportion of headache patients have significant disability because of ongoing chronic TMD pain. The trend to a higher prevalence of TMD in patients with combined migraine and tension-type headache suggests that this could be a risk factor for TMD development. A need for screening procedures and treatment strategies concerning depression in headache patients with coexistent TMD is underlined by the overrepresentation of depression in this group. Our findings emphasize the importance of examination of the masticatory system in headache sufferers and underline the necessity of a multidimensional approach in chronic headache patients.

Behavioral dependence in patients with medication overuse headache: a cross-sectional study in consulting patients using the DSM-IV criteria

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to assess behavioral dependence on migraine abortive drugs in medication-overuse headache (MOH) patients and identify the predisposing factors.

BACKGROUND

It is common occurrence that MOH patients relapse after medication withdrawal. Behavioral determinants of medication overuse should therefore be identified in MOH patients.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional, multicenter study that included 247 MOH patients (according to International Classification of Headache Disorders, 2nd edition criteria) consulting in French headache specialty centers. Face-to-face interviews were conducted by senior neurologists using a structured questionnaire including the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV) criteria for the evaluation of dependence, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale for the evaluation of anxiety and depression, and 6-item short-form Headache Impact Test scale for the determination of functional impact.

RESULTS

Most MOH patients had pre-existing primary migraine (87.4%) and current migraine-type headaches (83.0%). Treatments overused included triptans (45.8%), opioid analgesics alone or in combination (43.3% of patients), and analgesics (27.9%). Nonmigraine abortive substances (tobacco, caffeine, sedatives/anxiolytics) were overused by 13.8% of patients. Two-thirds of MOH patients (66.8%) were considered dependent on acute treatments of headaches according to the DSM-IV criteria. Most dependent MOH patients had migraine as pre-existing primary headache (85.7%) and current migraine-type headaches (87.9%), and most of them overused opioid analgesics. More dependent than nondependent MOH patients were dependent on psychoactive substances (17.6% vs 6.1%). Multivariate logistic analysis indicated that risk factors of dependence on acute treatments of headaches pertained both to the underlying disease (history of migraine, unilateral headaches) and to drug addiction (opioid overuse, previous withdrawal). Affective symptoms did not appear among the predictive factors of dependence.

CONCLUSION

In some cases, MOH thus appears to belong to the spectrum of addictive behaviors. In clinical practice, behavioral management of MOH should be undertaken besides pharmacological management.