Abstract
Background: Migraine is the second most common cause of headaches and the most common headache-related neurological disability in the world. It is commonly linked with a broad range of psychiatric comorbidities. There has been a reported increase in the prevalence of migraine-related disability in patients who develop mood disorders due to migraine. This study is driven by the rising incidence of disability and deteriorating health-related quality of life observed in a significant portion of migraine patients. Approximately one-third to half of these individuals experience inadequate diagnosis and treatment, while two-thirds report mood changes associated with their condition. Addressing these gaps is crucial for improving overall patient outcomes and quality of life.
Methods: This cross-sectional study has been carried out in the duration of one month in which the subjects with migraine were recruited by consecutive sampling amongst those aged 16-64 years from Mangalore, diagnosed with migraine based on the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD), with the major demographic variables of age, gender, education, occupation, and marital status, socio-economic status and assess some of its clinical features, including aspects of consequential disability using a previously validated Migraine disability assessment (MIDAS) questionnaire.
Results: A total of 50 patients were studied. The study shows a female preponderance of 74%. The prevalence of migraine varied with age, rising through early adult life and declining in the late 40s and early 50s. Majority of about 52% belonged to the age group of 14-34 years. The duration and frequency of headaches were found to correlate with the presence of mood disorders in 60% of the patients. Moreover, a higher migraine-related disability was noted in patients with comorbid mood disorders. Majority of the subjects (52%) under the study belonged to moderate levels of functional disability based on Migraine disability assessment (MIDAS).
Conclusion: The present study revealed migraine preponderance amongst younger female population leading to significant mood disorders with rising migraine-related disability. An early diagnosis and optimum treatment of these individuals can prevent these impairments and lead to a better quality of life in these individuals. Patients with migraine must be screened for mood disorders using questionnaires like the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) to rule out comorbid mood disorders.