Comorbid Migraine is Associated with a Negative Impact on Quality of Life in Patients with Major Depression

Anger and Depression in Middle-Aged Men: Implications for a Clinical Diagnosis of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy

OBJECTIVE

In recent years, it has been proposed that problems with anger control and depression define clinical features of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). The authors examined anger problems and depression in middle-aged men from the general population and related those findings to the proposed clinical criteria for CTE.

METHODS

A sample of 166 community-dwelling men ages 40-60 was extracted from the normative database of the National Institutes of Health Toolbox. All participants denied prior head injury or traumatic brain injury (TBI). Participants completed scales assessing anger, hostility, aggression, anxiety, and depression.

RESULTS

In response to the item "I felt angry," 21.1% of men reported "sometimes," and 4.8% reported "often." When asked "If I am provoked enough I may hit another person," 11.4% endorsed the statement as true. There were moderate correlations between anger and anxiety (Spearman's ρ=0.61) and between depression and affective anger (ρ=0.51), hostility (ρ=0.56), and perceived hostility (ρ=0.35). Participants were dichotomized into a possible depression group (N=49) and a no-depression group (N=117) on the basis of the question "I feel depressed," specific to the past 7 days. The possible depression group reported higher anxiety (p<0.001, Cohen's d=1.51), anger (p<0.001, Cohen's d=0.96), and hostility (p<0.001, Cohen's d=0.95).

CONCLUSIONS

Some degree of anger and aggression are reported by a sizable minority of middle-aged men in the general population with no known history of TBI. Anger and hostility are correlated with depression and anxiety, indicating that all tend to co-occur. The base rates and comorbidity of affective dysregulation in men in the general population is important to consider when conceptualizing CTE phenotypes.

Network Analysis and Precision Rehabilitation for the Post-concussion Syndrome

Some people experience persistent symptoms following a mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI), and the etiology of those symptoms has been debated for generations. Post-concussion-like symptoms are caused by many factors both before and after MTBI, and this non-specificity is the bedrock of the conundrum regarding the existence of the post-concussion syndrome. A latent model or common cause theory for the syndrome is inconsistent with the prevailing biopsychosocial conceptualization. It is the thesis of this paper that adopting a network perspective for persistent symptoms following MTBI, including the post-concussion syndrome, could lead to new insights and targeted treatment and rehabilitation strategies. The network perspective posits that symptoms co-occur because they are strongly inter-related, activating, amplifying, and mutually reinforcing, not because they arise from a common latent disease entity. This approach requires a conceptual shift away from thinking that symptoms reflect an underlying disease or disorder toward viewing inter-related symptoms as constituting the syndrome or disorder. The symptoms do not arise from an underlying syndrome—the symptoms are the syndrome. A network analysis approach allows us to embrace heterogeneity and comorbidity, and it might lead to the identification of new approaches to sequenced care. The promise of precision rehabilitation requires us to better understand the interconnections among symptoms and problems so that we can produce more individualized and effective treatment and rehabilitation.

The Need to Separate Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Neuropathology from Clinical Features

There is tremendous recent interest in chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in former collision sport athletes, civilians, and military veterans. This critical review places important recent research results into a historical context. In 2015, preliminary consensus criteria were developed for defining the neuropathology of CTE, which substantially narrowed the pathology previously reported to be characteristic. There are no agreed upon clinical criteria for diagnosis, although sets of criteria have been proposed for research purposes. A prevailing theory is that CTE is an inexorably progressive neurodegenerative disease within the molecular classification of the tauopathies. However, historical and recent evidence suggests that CTE, as it is presented in the literature, might not be pathologically or clinically progressive in a substantial percentage of people. At present, it is not known whether the emergence, course, or severity of clinical symptoms can be predicted by specific combinations of neuropathologies, thresholds for accumulation of pathology, or regional distributions of pathologies. More research is needed to determine the extent to which the neuropathology ascribed to long-term effects of neurotrauma is static, progressive, or both. Disambiguating the pathology from the broad array of clinical features that have been reported in recent studies might facilitate and accelerate research- and improve understanding of CTE.

Neurophysiologic Correlates of Headache Pain in Subjects With Major Depressive Disorder

BACKGROUND

Headache pain is often comorbid with major depressive disorder (MDD) and is associated with greater symptom burden, disability, and suicidality. The biological correlates of headache pain in MDD, however, remain obscure. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between brain oscillatory activity and headache pain in MDD subjects.

METHODS

A total of 64 subjects with MDD who were free of psychoactive medications were evaluated for severity of headache pain in the past week. Brain function was assessed using resting-state quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG). We derived cordance in the theta (4-8 Hz) and alpha (8-12 Hz) frequency bands at each electrode, and examined correlations with headache pain in regions of interest while controlling for depression severity. Frontal and posterior asymmetry in alpha power was calculated in regions of interest.

RESULTS

Headache pain severity was associated with depression severity ( r = 0.447, P < .001). In bilateral frontal and right posterior regions, alpha cordance was significantly associated with headache intensity, including when controlling for depression severity. The direction of the correlation was positive anteriorly and negative posteriorly. Frontal left dominant alpha asymmetry correlated with severity of headache but not depression symptoms.

CONCLUSION

Alterations in brain oscillations identified by alpha cordance and alpha asymmetry may be associated with the pathophysiology of headache pain in depression. These findings should be prospectively confirmed.

Preliminary Study of a Scale Measuring Depression and Somatic Symptoms

This description concerns the development of a scale measuring depression and somatic symptoms and the selection of its items for a Taiwanese sample. 102 Taiwanese outpatients (28 men, 74 women) with major depressive disorder completed a 44-item preliminary scale. All had experienced a major depressive episode but had not been treated by antidepressants within the prior two weeks. The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale was administered to evaluate the validity of the Depression and Somatic Symptoms Scale (DSSS). Items, 12 for the Depression Subscale and 10 for the Somatic Subscale, were selected for the Depression and Somatic Symptoms Scale according to their frequency and their association with rated severity of depression and clinical practices. The mean Hamilton Depression score was 23.9 ( SD = 5.2) versus 38.4 ( SD = 11.3) for the total DSSS; means for the Depression subscale were 23.5 ± 6.0 and the Somatic subscale 14.9 ± 6.8. Cronbach alpha was .88 for the total DSSS, .78 for the Depression subscale, and .86 for the Somatic subscale. The Pearson correlation coefficient for the two scales was .59 ( p < .01). The new scale had adequate internal consistency reliability and convergent validity. Much study is required to assess its structure, item characteristics, and in judging its applicability and limitations, and sensitivity to cultural differences in clinical settings.

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.

The impacts of migraine and anxiety disorders on painful physical symptoms among patients with major depressive disorder

Background

No study has simultaneously investigated the impacts of migraine and anxiety disorders on painful physical symptoms (PPS) among patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). The study aimed to investigate this issue.

Methods

This open-label study enrolled 155 outpatients with MDD, who were then treated with venlafaxine 75 mg per day for four weeks. Eighty-five participants with good compliance completed the treatment. Migraine was diagnosed according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders. MDD and anxiety disorders were diagnosed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-TR. The visual analog scale (VAS) was used to evaluate the severity of eight PPS. Multiple linear and logistic regressions were used to investigate the impacts of migraine and anxiety disorders on PPS.

Results

Compared with patients without migraine, patients with migraine had a greater severity of PPS at baseline and post-treatment. After controlling for demographic variables and depressive severity, migraine independently predicted the intensities of eight PPS at baseline and four PPS post-treatment. Moreover, migraine independently predicted poorer treatment responses of chest pain and full remission of pains in the head, chest, neck and/or shoulder. Anxiety disorders predicted less full remission of pains in the abdomen and limbs.

Conclusion

Migraine and anxiety disorders have negative impacts on PPS among patients with MDD. Integrating the treatment of migraine and anxiety disorders into the management of depression might help to improve PPS and the prognosis of MDD.

Increased myo-inositol level in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in migraine patients with major depression

Background

Although the comorbidity between migraine and major depressive disorder (MDD) has been recognized, the pathophysiology remains unclear. The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) is a well-known neural substrate for MDD. We investigated the relationship between brain metabolites in DLPFC and comorbid MDD in migraine patients.

Methods

We recruited migraine patients from a tertiary headache clinic. A board-certified psychiatrist conducted a structured interview for MDD diagnosis. The severity of depression was evaluated by the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Thirty migraine patients (five men, 25 women; mean age: 40.4 ± 12.4 years) completed the study, and 16 of them were diagnosed with MDD. All patients underwent a magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) examination focusing on bilateral DLPFC. The ratios of N-acetylaspartate (NAA), choline (Cho), and myo-inositol (mI) to total creatine (tCr) were compared between migraine patients with and without MDD, and were correlated with BDI scores.

Results

Relative to patients without MDD, migraine patients with MDD had higher mI/tCr ratios in the bilateral DLPFC ( p = 0.02, left; p = 0.02, right, Mann-Whitney U test). The mI/tCr ratios in the right DLPFC were positively correlated with BDI scores ( r = 0.52, p = 0.003). The NAA/tCr and Cho/tCr ratios did not differ between migraine patients with and without MDD.

Conclusion

Increased mI/tCr within the DLPFC might be associated with the presence of MDD in migraine patients.

Pro-inflammatory cytokine associated with somatic and pain symptoms in depression

BACKGROUND

More than two-thirds of depressed patients complain of somatic and pain symptoms, which are frequently regarded as a psychological reaction. Although there is a growing body of evidence showing that depression is related to immune abnormalities, few studies have investigated the association between inflammatory cytokines and somatic/pain symptoms.

METHOD

Patients with depressive disorder but without any medical disorders, and age/gender/body mass index (BMI)-matched healthy subjects were enrolled. All the subjects completed the self-rating scales of the Beck Depression Inventory-II and the Depression and Somatic Symptoms Scale, which was comprised of depressive, somatic, and pain subscales. Pro-inflammatory cytokines, including C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R), soluble interleukin 6 receptor (sIL-6R), soluble TNF-receptors (sTNF-R), soluble P-selectin (sP-selectin), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), and adiponectin, were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.

RESULTS

In all, 109 patients with depressive disorder and 126 normal controls were enrolled. The patients with depressive disorder had significantly more severe depression, somatic and pain symptoms (all p<0.001), and higher levels of sIL-2R (p<0.0001), sTNF-R (p<0.001), and sP-selectin (p=0.005) than the normal control group. Using multivariate regression analysis with controlling of age, gender, BMI, and other pro-inflammatory cytokines, sIL-2R was the most significant predictor for depressive symptoms (p<0.0001); with further controlling of severity of depressive symptom, sP-selectin was the only predictor for somatic (p=0.002) and pain (p=0.059) symptoms.

CONCLUSION

The elevated sP-selectin associated with somatic symptoms in depression, may indicate early micro-vascular changes occur subtly, and provide neurobiological evidence for somatic and pain symptom in depression.

Psychiatric symptoms may contribute to poor quality of life in adolescents with migraine

BACKGROUND

The impact of migraine on quality of life (QOL) can be aggravated by other comorbid factors. The aim of the present study was to assess the differences in the QOL of adolescents with chronic migraine, episodic migraine, and healthy adolescents, and whether the differences in QOL among the diagnostic groups were associated with the presence of self-reported psychiatric symptoms, such as depression and anxiety.

METHODS

A total of 157 adolescents (aged 15-19 years old) were included in the study. Fifty patients had episodic migraine, 56 patients suffered from chronic migraine, and 51 healthy adolescents were controls. All of the participants responded to a detailed headache questionnaire, the Medical Outcomes Trust 36-Item Short-form Health Survey, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Beck Depression Inventory.

RESULTS

Chronic migraine patients showed a significantly lower QOL than the control subjects in five dimensions of the Medical Outcomes Trust 36-Item Short-form Health Survey, and lower QOL than the episodic migraine patients in four dimensions. High levels of self-reported depressive symptoms were associated with lower QOL in five dimensions and high levels of self-reported anxiety were associated with lower QOL in four dimensions.

CONCLUSIONS

The QOL of adolescent migraine sufferers may be aggravated not only by migraine but also by other factors, such as anxiety and depressive symptoms, which may contribute to the poor QOL in adolescents suffering from migraine.

Prevalence and predictive factors for poor sleep quality among migraineurs in a tertiary hospital headache clinic

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and predictive factors for poor sleep quality among migraineurs in a tertiary hospital headache clinic in southwest China. In this study, we used a visual analog scale (VAS), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) to assess headache intensity, sleep quality as well as anxiety and depression symptoms. In 211 subjects who were assessed continuously, we found that the average PSQI score was 8.03 ± 4.71, and 130 (61.61 %) migraineurs exhibited poor sleep quality (PSQI >5). Poor sleep quality was largely expressed as experiencing an extended sleep latency period, daytime dysfunction, poor subjective sleep quality, and short sleep duration. The primary factors that predicted poor sleep quality included the migraine history and comorbidity with anxiety and/or depression. Moreover, we found that most migraineurs did not adopt treatment for their poor sleep quality. Only 17 (8.06 %) patients used sleeping medication to improve their poor sleep quality; however, this medication was not effective in 16 (94.12 %) patients. Therefore, it is highly important to resolve poor sleep quality in migraineurs.

Chronic migraine and chronic daily headache in the Asia-Pacific region: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Data on the prevalence and characteristics of chronic migraine (CM) and chronic daily headache (CDH) in the Asia-Pacific region are limited.

METHODS

We performed a systematic review on this topic, searching for studies published from 1996 to 2012 that reported the prevalence (population-based studies) or frequency (clinic studies) of CM or CDH. We calculated 95% confidence intervals for the prevalence in population studies. Results were qualitatively described.

RESULTS

Seven population studies and 19 hospital clinic studies from Asia were included. The CDH prevalence in population studies was 1.0-3.9% (median 2.9%). Only two studies from Taiwan reported the population prevalence of CM (1.0% and 1.7%). In addition, we derived a prevalence of 0.6% from a Malaysian study. Eleven clinic studies reported a CM frequency of 4.7-82% (median 52%) as a subset of CDH; classification of medication overuse varied. CM was associated with substantial disability.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of CM and CDH in Asia appears lower than the global average, but applying the above prevalence estimates to the Asia-Pacific population would suggest that CM alone affects between 23 and 65 million individuals in the region.

Negative impact of migraine on quality of life after 4 weeks of treatment in patients with major depressive disorder

AIM

The impact of migraine on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) after acute antidepressant treatment has not been addressed. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether or not the negative impact of migraine on HRQoL among outpatients with MDD continued to have an effect after 4 weeks of venlafaxine treatment.

METHODS

A total of 135 outpatients with MDD were enrolled, who were then treated with venlafaxine 75 mg per day for 4 weeks in the present open-label study. Migraine was diagnosed based on the International Classification of Headache Disorders (2nd edn). Changes in Short-Form 36 (SF-36) and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) scores were the outcome measures. Multiple linear regression was used to assess whether migraine was an independent factor predicting SF-36 score after treatment.

RESULTS

Seventy-two participants (18M/54F) completed the 4-week treatment. Subjects with migraine had a poorer HRQoL in terms of bodily pain and mental health at baseline. Subjects with and without migraine showed significant improvement in all SF-36 subscales and depression after treatment, but subjects with migraine still had a poorer HRQoL regarding bodily pain and physical functioning after treatment as compared with those without migraine. Migraine could predict a negative outcome after treatment in the subscales of physical functioning, role limitations-physical, and role limitations-emotional.

CONCLUSIONS

Migraine may have a negative impact on the improvement of partial SF-36 subscales, especially on functional recovery, after acute treatment among outpatients with MDD. Whether additional intervention besides antidepressant treatment for migraine is indicated may need further study.

Somatic symptoms: an important index in predicting the outcome of depression at six-month and two-year follow-up points among outpatients with major depressive disorder

BACKGROUND

Few studies have simultaneously compared the ability of depression, anxiety, and somatic symptoms to predict the outcome of major depressive disorder (MDD). This study aimed to compare the MDD outcome predictive ability of depression, anxiety, and somatic severity at 6-month and 2-year follow-ups.

METHODS

One-hundred and thirty-five outpatients (men/women=34/101) with MDD were enrolled. Depression and anxiety were evaluated by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and depression subscale of the Depression and Somatic Symptoms Scale (DSSS). Somatic severity was evaluated by the somatic subscale of the DSSS. Subjects undergoing pharmacotherapy in the follow-up month were categorized into the treatment group; the others were categorized into the no-treatment group. Multiple linear regressions were used to identify the scales most powerful in predicting MDD outcome.

RESULTS

Among the 135 subjects, 119 and 106 completed the 6-month and 2-year follow-ups, respectively. Somatic severity at baseline was correlated with the outcomes of the three scales at the two follow-ups. After controlling for demographic variables, somatic severity independently predicted most outcomes of the three scales at the two follow-ups in the no-treatment group and the cost of pharmacotherapy and DSSS score at the 6-month follow-up in the treatment group.

LIMITATIONS

Division of the subjects into treatment and no-treatment groups was not based on randomization and bias might have been introduced.

CONCLUSIONS

Somatic severity was the most powerful index in predicting MDD outcome. Psychometric scales with appropriate somatic symptom items may be more accurate in predicting MDD outcome.

Psychiatric comorbidities and migraine chronification

A growing body of literature has implicated comorbid psychopathology as a potential risk factor for the chronification of migraine. Of the psychiatric disorders, depressive and anxiety disorders have been most consistently associated with the chronification of migraine. A shared dysfunction of the serotonergic system, medication overuse, and psychological factors have been proposed to mediate this relationship, although the responsible mechanisms are still largely unclear. This article overviews literature on psychiatric comorbidities and migraine chronification, considers mechanisms underlying this relationship, and notes directions for future clinical and empirical work.

Migraine: a missing link between somatic symptoms and major depressive disorder

BACKGROUND

Research into the role of migraine in somatic symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD) has long been neglected; hence, the aim of this study was to compare the impact of migraine and anxiety comorbidities on the somatic symptoms of patients with MDD.

METHODS

Consecutive psychiatric outpatients with MDD in a medical center were enrolled. MDD and anxiety disorders were diagnosed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-TR; migraine was diagnosed according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders, 2nd edition. Four scales were administered and evaluated: the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, the Depression and Somatic Symptoms Scale, the somatization subscale of the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Multiple linear regressions were used to find the most powerful comorbidities in predicting somatic symptoms.

RESULTS

One hundred and fifty five patients (106F, 49M) completed the study. Subjects with migraine had higher somatic, depression and anxiety severities. Panic disorder was the most important factor when predicting somatic severity among anxiety comorbidities. Migraine (R(2) change=0.28 to 0.04, p<.01) was the strongest independent factor in predicting somatic severity, even after controlling for anxiety comorbidities and demographic variables.

LIMITATIONS

This study used certain exclusion criteria when enrolling MDD outpatients, possibly introducing bias.

CONCLUSIONS

Comorbidity with migraine was found to be associated with more somatic symptoms in patients with MDD, and migraine was a strong and independent predictor for the somatic symptoms of MDD. Future studies on the somatic symptoms of MDD should therefore take migraine into consideration.

Validation of the Depression and Somatic Symptoms Scale by comparison with the Short Form 36 scale among psychiatric outpatients with major depressive disorder

BACKGROUND

The Depression and Somatic Symptoms Scale (DSSS) is a self-administered scale developed for monitoring both depression and somatic symptoms. The aims of this study were to establish the criterion-related validity of the DSSS by testing the correlation between the DSSS and the Short Form 36 (SF-36) scale and to compare the ability of the DSSS and two other scales in predicting the outcome of the SF-36.

METHODS

The study enrolled 135 outpatients with a major depressive episode, 95 of whom received treatment for 1 month. Four scales were administered and evaluated: the DSSS, the SF-36, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. Pearson correlation was used to test correlations among scales. Multiple linear regressions were used to find the scales most effective in predicting the SF-36.

RESULTS

The three scales were significantly correlated with most of the SF-36 subscales. The depression and somatic subscales of the DSSS significantly correlated with the mental and physical subscales of the SF-36, respectively. The DSSS and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were better able to predict physical and mental subscales of the SF-36, respectively. The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale had a good ability to predict functional impairment.

CONCLUSIONS

Psychometric scales with appropriate somatic symptoms might be more compatible with both physical and mental dimensions of the SF-36. DSSS proved to be a valid scale for monitoring both depression and somatic symptoms in patients with depression. Future studies should test whether the DSSS is better at predicting the treatment and prognosis of depression than conventional scales for depression.

Migraine predicts self-reported muscle tension in patients with major depressive disorder

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to identify factors related to muscle tension in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) with comorbid anxiety and migraine.

METHOD

Consecutive psychiatric outpatients with MDD were enrolled. Self-reported muscle tension (SMT) during the previous week was evaluated with a 0-10 scale.

RESULTS

Of 135 participants with MDD, 63 (46.7%) had migraine. Multiple-regression analyses showed that migraine and headache intensity were two major independent factors related to SMT.

CONCLUSION

Further studies on musculoskeletal symptoms in MDD should not neglect the impact of migraine.

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.

The impact of anxiety and migraine on quality of sleep in patients with major depressive disorder

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of anxiety disorders and migraine on sleep quality and to find the independent factors that predict sleep quality among patients with major depressive disorder (MDD).

METHOD

Psychiatric outpatients diagnosed with MDD were enrolled in the study. Major depressive disorder and 7 anxiety disorders were diagnosed using the Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision. Migraine was diagnosed based on the International Classification of Headache Disorders, Second Edition. Headache intensity and frequency were reported by the subjects. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale were used to evaluate quality of sleep and depression severity, respectively. Multiple linear regressions were used to identify independent factors related to sleep quality.

RESULTS

One hundred thirty-five subjects (34 men and 101 women) with MDD were enrolled in the study. Subjects with panic disorder and agoraphobia were found to have poorer Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores. Subjects with panic disorder, agoraphobia, and migraine had higher scores for items relating to sleep quality in the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. Headache intensity and frequency correlated with sleep disturbance. Panic disorder was independently predictive of poor sleep quality. Both migraine and panic disorder independently predicted a greater severity of depression.

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrates the negative impact of panic disorder and migraine on MDD and some of the interrelations between depression, anxiety, and sleep quality. Future studies should further explore these interactions and consider possible therapeutic interventions.

The impacts of migraine, anxiety disorders, and chronic depression on quality of life in psychiatric outpatients with major depressive disorder

OBJECTIVE

Our purpose was to determine if migraine, anxiety comorbidities, and chronic depression were independently related to health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in outpatients with major depressive disorder (MDD).

METHOD

Consecutive psychiatric outpatients with MDD in a medical center were enrolled. MDD, chronic depression, and seven anxiety disorders were diagnosed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-TR. Migraine was diagnosed based on the International Classification of Headache Disorders, 2nd edition. The acute version of the Short-Form 36 and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) were used to evaluate the HRQoL and the severity of depression, respectively. Multiple linear regressions were used to determine the independent factors related to HRQoL.

RESULTS

There were 135 participants (34 men, 101 women) with MDD. Subjects with migraine, anxiety comorbidities, or chronic depression had higher HAMD scores and poor HRQoL. Migraine, specific phobia, and panic disorder were important and independent comorbidities predicting HRQoL. The impact of migraine on HRQoL, especially on bodily pain, was not inferior to those of some anxiety comorbidities or chronic depression.

CONCLUSION

Future studies related to HRQoL of MDD should consider migraine and anxiety comorbidities simultaneously.

Precipitating or aggravating factors for headache in patients with major depressive disorder

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate the common precipitating or aggravating factors for headache among patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and to compare precipitating or aggravating factors specifically for migraine with those for other headaches.

METHODS

Consecutive psychiatric outpatients with MDD in a medical center were enrolled. Headaches were diagnosed based on the International Classification of Headache Disorders, 2nd Edition. A 21-item self-report questionnaire was used to identify precipitating or aggravating factors. Subjects were divided into migraine and other-headache groups.

RESULTS

Of 122 subjects (76% female) with headache, 63 (51.6%) were diagnosed with migraine. Mental stress and depressive symptoms were the most common precipitating or aggravating factors, and 17 factors affected >50% of the subjects. Compared with other-headache groups, the migraine group was more sensitive to emotional and perceptional stimuli and to the stress of daily activities.

CONCLUSION

Treatment of depression and education of depressed patients about how to cope with mental stress might help to eliminate the negative impact of headache.

Depression and somatic symptoms scale: a new scale with both depression and somatic symptoms emphasized

The authors' preliminary study selected 22 items for Depression and Somatic Symptoms Scale (DSSS), including depression subscale (DS) and somatic subscale (SS). The aim of the study was to test reliability and validity of the DSSS. The study enrolled 135 consecutive outpatients (34 male and 101 female) experiencing a major depressive episode (the MDE group), 95 of whom (25 male and 70 female) accepted 1 month of treatment (the treatment group). Diagnosis was confirmed by using the Structured Clinical Interview for 4(th) edition with text revision Diagnostic and Statistical Manual Axis I Disorders. The DSSS and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) were given and evaluated. Cronbach's alpha was used to assess internal consistency. The correlation between the improvement percentage (IP) for the HAMD and the IP for the DSSS was calculated for the treatment group. Factor analysis was performed by using the principal-axis factoring method with promax rotation. Cronbach's alpha values of the DSSS and its subscales ranged from 0.73 to 0.94. Pearson correlation coefficients for the relationship between the DSSS and HAMD ranged from 0.63 to 0.86. In the treatment group, DSSS and HAMD scores were significantly decreased after treatment and the IP for the HAMD and the DSSS were similar and correlated (correlation coefficient = 0.78). The results of the factor analysis demonstrated that most of the items in DS and SS appropriately loaded in Depression and Somatic factors, respectively. The discriminative ability of the DSSS for anxiety comorbidities was not inferior to that of the HAMD. Therefore, the DSSS is reliable and sensitive to the treatment and has acceptable convergent, factorial, and distinct-groups validities. Because it assesses both depression and somatic symptoms, DSSS may overcome the deficiency of other depression scales with few somatic items.

The Impact of Migraine on Patients With Major Depressive Disorder

BACKGROUND

The impact of migraine and other headache types among psychiatric outpatients with major depressive disorder (MDD) has not been fully described.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the impact of migraine on the severity, physical, and anxiety symptoms in patients with MDD and to examine the interaction between headache and depression.

METHODS

This clinic-based study enrolled consecutive psychiatric outpatients meeting DSM-IV criteria for MDD. Headache types were diagnosed based on the International Classification of Headache Disorders, 2nd edition (2004). Three psychometric instruments were used to evaluate anxiety, depression, and physical components: the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. In addition, the interactions between headache and their depressive episode were also evaluated.

RESULTS

Compared with patients without migraine, MDD patients with comorbid migraine (n = 73, 48.3%) had higher physical and anxiety scores on the three psychometric instruments. Migraine accounted for 5% to 11% of the variance of the total scores on the three psychometric scales. Approximately half (48.5%) of patients reported headache worsening during or after a depressive episode.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study found that comorbidity of migraine in patients with MDD was associated with more anxiety and physical symptoms. Headache should not be considered as only a somatic symptom of depression, but should be treated as an important comorbid disorder because it might exacerbate or interact with depression during a depressive episode.