Social problem‐solving, perceived stress, depression and life‐satisfaction in patients suffering from tension type and migraine headaches

Abstract

This study aimed at investigating social problem solving, perceived stress, depression, and life-satisfaction in patients with tension type and migraine headaches. Forty-nine migraine and 42 tension type headache patients (n = 91) consenting to participate were compared to a total of 49 matched healthy control group. Participants filled in a questionnaire consisting self-report measures of problem solving, perceived stress, depression and life satisfaction. They were also asked about headache duration, frequency, pain severity, psychiatric treatment and sense of control in one's life. T-tests, chi-square, analysis of variance, logistic regression analysis and Pearson product moment correlation coefficient procedures were used to analyze the data. Tension type headache patients reported having had more frequent headaches than the migraine patients but migraine patients reported having had more intense pain than the tension type headache patients. Instances of psychiatric treatment were more common among tension type headache patients than the migraine and the control group. Compared to the healthy controls, headache patients displayed a deficiency in problem solving, higher levels of perceived stress and depression. Levels of problem solving skills in headache patients were related inversely to depression, perceived stress and the number of negative life events but problem solving skills of headache patients was related positively to life-satisfaction. The findings from this study suggested that cognitive behavioral problem solving therapy or training might be a viable option for reducing levels of stress and depression, and to increase life-satisfaction in patients suffering from primary headache.

Perceived stress in patients with migraine: a case-control study

“…It has been found that migraine patients have higher levels of perceived stress than healthy controls [6, 7]. In addition, identified stress levels are higher in migrainous women than those in migrainous men [6].…”

Targeted alterations in dietary n-3 and n-6 fatty acids improve life functioning and reduce psychological distress among patients with chronic headache

“…Patients with chronic headaches often have high levels of psychological distress [8], including depressive symptoms [23; 37], anxiety [25; 41; 54], and somatization [21; 48]. Psychological distress can exacerbate the adverse impact of headache on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) [22], and may reduce efficacy of headache interventions [22].…”

Personality Characteristics in Migraine and Tension Type Headache

“…In a study in USA, showed that those who reported <16 years of education had a significantly higher mean BMI (Body Mass Index), were more likely to be obese, were more likely to experience depression, and have a higher mean BID (Body Image Dissatisfaction) score compared to those with ≥16 years of education [41]. Another study suggested cognitive behavioral problem solving therapy or training might be a viable option for reducing levels of stress and depression, and to increase lifesatisfaction in patients suffering from primary headache [42].…”