A Comparative Study on Anxiety and Depression of the Patients having Migraine

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19483480

Debleena Kumar (Department of Psychology, Bijoy Krishna Girls’ College, Howrah, West Bengal)

In the present society Migraine is a severe health-related problem that compels people to lose several working hours. The present study was done with two groups, each having twenty-five subjects. The first group comprised of normal subjects without migraine and the second group comprised of subjects clinically diagnosed with Migraine. Migraine diagnosis is done according to IHS criteria. State Trait Anxiety Inventory (Spielberger et al., 1970) and Beck Depression Inventory (Beck et al., 1961) were applied to estimate Anxiety, as well as Depression of the participants. Obtained results direct a statistically substantial variation between State Anxiety Scores of Subjects having Migraine and normal controls (t=3.13, significant at .003 level). There is a statistically substantial variation between Depression Scores of Subjects having Migraine to normal controls (t= 4.49, significant at .001 level). Statistically validated variation was found between State Anxiety Scores of Subjects having Migraine when they are in attack and when they are in normal condition (t= 12.26, significant at .000 level). A difference between Trait Anxiety Scores of Subjects having Migraine and normal controls is also found but it is not statistically significant (t=1.75 at .09). The results from this study show that people with migraine experience increased state anxiety and depression particularly when they are having a migraine attack. It is therefore important to develop treatment techniques for these individuals that include both psycho-physical and neurological support mechanisms so they can achieve greater overall levels of functioning and an improved quality of life.