Association of mental health symptoms with the migraine-tension-type headache spectrum in the Brazilian longitudinal study of adult health

Author(s)

Mercante, Juliane Prieto Peres ; Oliveira, Arao Belitardo ; Peres, Mario Fernando Prieto ; Wang, Yuan-Pang ; Brunoni, Andre Russowsky ; Lotufo, Paulo Andrade ; Bensenor, Isabela Martins ; Goulart, Alessandra Carvalho

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: JOURNAL OF PSYCHOSOMATIC RESEARCH; v. 179, p. 10-pg., 2024-03-02.

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the relationship between mental health symptoms and the migraine-tension-type headache (TTH) spectrum in middle-aged adults from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSABrasil study). Methods: In this cross-sectional analysis (baseline data: 2008-2010), it was evaluated the relationship between each mental health symptom assessed by the Clinical Interview Schedule-Revised (CIS-R) questionnaire and headache subtypes (migraine and TTH) according to international criteria. It was performed binary logistic regression models, with estimated odds ratios (OR) with their respective 95% confidence intervals (CI) adjusted for confounders including migraine attack frequency. Results: Among 13,916 participants, 70.1% reported any major primary headache subtype within the last year. The most common subtype was definite TTH (33.4%), followed by probable migraine (21.0%), definite migraine (8.5%), and probable TTH (7.2%). Our main findings indicated positive associations between anxiety-related symptoms and the migraine-tension type headache (TTH) spectrum with a clear trend toward definite migraine more than tension-type headache. The presence of somatic symptoms presented a high likelihood for the associations with headaches, mainly definite migraine (OR: 7.9, 95% CI: 6.4-9.8), probable migraine (OR: 4.5, 95% CI 3.7-5.4) and probable TTH (OR: 3.0, 95% CI: 2.3-3.8). Other symptoms associated with headache disorders included fatigue, panic, irritability, anxiety symptoms, concentration problems, forgetfulness, depressive symptoms, and worry. The effect of associations remained significant after controlling for headache attack frequency. Conclusion: This study provides evidence of consistent associations between mental health symptoms and primary headache disorders, with a higher burden of anxiety-based symptoms observed in people with migraine than those with TTH. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 23/03011-5 - Migraine as a predictor of brain structural and functional changes: in-depth evaluation of magnetic resonance neuroimaging in ELSA-Brasil
• Grantee: Arão Belitardo de Oliveira
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 20/09468-9 - The determinants of healthy brain aging in the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil)
• Grantee: Alessandra Carvalho Goulart
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants