[Predictors of migraine attacks].
Little is known about psychological and social factors influencing the frequency of migraine attacks. The aim of the present study was to study whether anger, anger-expression, anxiety, depression, somatization and childhood adversities influence the frequency of migraine attacks. 53 female patients suffering from migraine with a mean monthly headache frequency of 6.85 took part. Groups of patients with 6 or less monthly attacks (N = 27) vs. patients with 7 or more days (N = 26) were formed. Logistic regression analysis revealed, that only the variable "anger-in" resulted in an improvement of prediction of group-membership (rate of correct classified cases: 69.8 %). Tendency to repress anger increases the probability to be a member of the group with frequent attacks. This result points out the relevance of anger-expression and -perception for the psychotherapy of migraine.
Bernardy
Kathrin
K
Fachklinik für Psychosomatische Medizin, Bliestal Kliniken, Blieskastel, Germany. k.bernardy@bliestal.mediclin.de
Lehmann
Katja
K
Einsle
Franziska
F
Gossrau
Gudrun
G
Michel
Sabine
S
Köllner
Volker
V
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000786:Anger; D001007:Anxiety / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D012306:Risk; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000150:complications