The impact of remission and coexisting migraine on anxiety and depression in cluster headache

Abstract

Background: Our aim was to investigate the relationship between coexisting cluster headache (CH) and migraine with anxiety and depression during active cluster bouts, and how symptoms change during remission.

Methods: We analyzed data from 222 consecutive CH patients and 99 age- and sex-matched controls using a prospective multicenter registry. Anxiety or depression was evaluated using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) or Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), respectively. Moderate-to-severe anxiety or depression was defined as a score of ≥10 at baseline (during a cluster bout). We assessed for changes in anxiety and depression during CH remission periods.

Results: Among the CH patients, the prevalence of moderate-to-severe anxiety and depression was seen in 38.2% and 34.6%, respectively. Compared with controls, CH patients were associated with moderate-to-severe anxiety and depression (multivariable-adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 7.32, 95% confidence intervals [CI] = 3.35-15.99 and aOR = 4.95, 95% CI = 2.32-10.57, respectively). CH patients with migraine were significantly more likely to have moderate-to-severe anxiety and depression (aOR = 32.53, 95% CI = 6.63-159.64 and aOR = 16.88, 95% CI = 4.16-68.38, respectively), compared to controls without migraine. The GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scores were significantly reduced between cluster bout and remission periods (from 6.8 ± 5.6 to 1.6 ± 2.8; P < 0.001, and from 6.1 ± 5.0 to 1.8 ± 2.4; P < 0.001, respectively).

Conclusions: Our results indicate that CH patients are at increased risk of anxiety and depression, especially in the presence of coexisting migraine. However, the anxiety and depression can improve during remission periods.

Keywords: Anxiety; Cluster headache; Depression; Headache; Migraine.

Fig. 1

Flowchart for recruitment

Fig. 2

a Changes in anxiety and depression scores between active cluster bouts and remission periods. b Changes in the proportion of patients with moderate-to-severe anxiety and depression between active cluster bouts and remission periods. Abbreviations: GAD-7, Generalized Anxiety Disorder (7-item scale); PHQ-9, Patient Health Questionnaire (9-item scale)

Fig. 3

Proportions of patients with a more than 50% reduction in anxiety and depression according to prespecified subgroups. Abbreviations: GAD-7, Generalized Anxiety Disorder (7-item scale); PHQ-9, Patient Health Questionnaire (9-item scale)