Some Characteristics of the Psychoemotional Aspect in Children and Adolescents (5–18 years old) with Migraine

Abstract

Study Objective: To identify the features of psychoemotional characteristics of children and adolescents with migraine. Study Design: Comparative study. Materials and methods. We have examined 160 patients: preschool children (5–6 years old), primary school-aged children (7–10 years old), secondary school-aged children (11–14 years old), and high school-aged children (15–18 years old). Patients with verified migraine (G43.0, 43.1, 43.3, 43.8 as per ICD-10) were included into study group (I , n = 80), patients without migraine comprised group (controls) II, n = 80). Questionnaires were used to find out complaints, collect medical and family history, history of early development of the child; children underwent standard neurological and somatic tests and a comprehensive clinical and laboratory examination Study Results. 80.0% of subjects who complained of headache said their headache was severe and either markedly (1/3 of cases), or significantly (2/3 of cases) affecting their daily life. Patients in group I more frequently had mild situational or neurotic depression vs. group II (18.7% vs. 13.5%) and situational or personal anxiety (28.8% vs. 11.4% and 33.8% vs. 11.4%, respectively). Conclusion. The specific features of the psychoemotional state of children and adults with migraine require psychological support, especially in depression and anxiety. Keywords: migraine, headache, psychoemotional state.