Anger and emotional distress in patients with migraine and tension-type headache

J Headache Pain. 2005 Oct;6(5):392-9. doi: 10.1007/s10194-005-0240-8. Epub 2005 Sep 21.

Abstract

The objective was to evaluate the prevalence and the characteristics of anger and emotional distress in migraine and tension- type headache patients. Two hundred and one headache patients attending the Headache Center of the University of Turin were selected for the study and divided into 5 groups: (1) migraine, (2) episodic tension-type headache, (3) chronic tension-type headache, (4) migraine associated with episodic tension-type headache and (5) migraine associated with chronic tension-type headache. A group of 45 healthy subjects served as controls. All the subjects completed the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory, the Beck's Depression Inventory and the Cognitive Behavioral Assessment. Anger control was significantly lower in all headache patients (p<0.05) except in migraineurs. Patients with migraine and tension-type headache showed a significantly higher level of angry temperament and angry reaction (p<0.05). In addition, chronic tension-type headache and migraine associated with tension-type headache patients reported a higher level of anxiety (p<0.05), depression (p<0.001), phobias (p<0.001) and obsessive-compulsive symptoms (p<0.01), emotional liability (p<0.001) and psychophysiological disorders (p<0.001). Our study shows that chronic tension-type headache and migraine associated with tension-type headache patients present a significant impairment of anger control and suggests a connection between anger and the duration of headache experience.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anger*
  • Chronic Disease / epidemiology
  • Chronic Disease / psychology
  • Comorbidity
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Depressive Disorder / epidemiology
  • Depressive Disorder / psychology
  • Female
  • Headache Disorders / psychology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Migraine Disorders / psychology*
  • Mood Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Mood Disorders / psychology*
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / epidemiology
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / psychology
  • Phobic Disorders / epidemiology
  • Phobic Disorders / psychology
  • Prevalence
  • Tension-Type Headache / psychology*