Headaches in Patients with Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Author Information
Author(s): Juliane P. P. Mercante, Peres Mario F. P., Bernik Márcio A.
Primary Institution: Institute of Psychiatry, HC-FMUSP, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Hypothesis
What is the lifetime prevalence of primary headaches in individuals with and without generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)?
Conclusion
Patients with generalized anxiety disorder have a significantly higher prevalence and severity of primary headaches compared to those without mental disorders.
Supporting Evidence
- 86.7% of GAD patients had primary headaches compared to 46.7% of controls.
- 66.7% of GAD patients had migraines compared to 13.3% of controls.
- GAD patients reported higher headache frequency, duration, and intensity than controls.
Takeaway
People with anxiety often have more headaches, especially migraines, than those without anxiety.
Methodology
The study involved structured interviews and psychiatric assessments of 30 GAD patients and 30 controls to diagnose primary headaches.
Potential Biases
The control group was not representative of the general population, which may introduce bias.
Limitations
The small sample size and lack of blinding in assessments may affect the results.
Participant Demographics
30 GAD patients (23 females, 7 males) and 30 controls (16 females, 14 males), mean ages 42.6 and 39.5 years respectively.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.001
Confidence Interval
95% CI = 2.08–26.55
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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