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. 2022 Oct 7;44(6):611-620.
doi: 10.47626/1516-4446-2021-2367.

Changes in the rest-activity rhythm in migraine patients are associated with anxiety symptoms

Mírian C M M David  1 , Marina S B Mattos  2 , Jandirlly J S Souto  3 , Sarah A C F Brito  2 , Etcheverry S Leite  2 , Eduardo N Valença  4 , Gilma S Galdino  2 , Patrick G G Sampaio  5 , Daniel M C Moura  5 , Mário A L Miguel  6 , John F Araújo  6 , Carlúcia I F Franco  2 , Rhowena J B Matos  7
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Changes in the rest-activity rhythm in migraine patients are associated with anxiety symptoms

Mírian C M M David et al. Braz J Psychiatry. .

Abstract

Objective: To characterize rest-activity rhythm in chronic migraine (CM) and to investigate the relationship between this rhythm and depressive and anxiety symptoms in patients with CM.

Methods: This was a study of adults aged 20 to 40 years. The rest-activity rhythm of patients with CM (n=23) and non-headache controls (NH, n=23) was assessed by actigraphy for 15 days, and they completed the following assessments: Visual Analogue Scale for pain intensity; Headache Diary; Headache Impact Test-6; Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire; Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index; Epworth Sleepiness Scale; Beck Depression Inventory; and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory.

Results: Patients with CM showed less activity over 24 hours and more fragmented sleep. Reduced interdaily stability of the rest-activity rhythm was observed, with less robustness of this rhythm in the CM group. Multiple linear regressions revealed a significant association between the rest-activity rhythm and trait anxiety variables in patients with CM, specifically regarding the relative amplitude of the cycle, activity throughout 24 hours and during sleep, and robustness of the rest-activity rhythm.

Conclusions: Our findings provide evidence that the robustness of the rest-activity rhythm, activity throughout 24 hours, and sleep fragmentation are associated with trait anxiety in patients with CM.

Keywords: Chronic migraine; anxiety; circadian rhythm; depression; sleep.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Study design. CM = chronic migraine; NH = non-headache.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Profile of anxiety and depression symptoms in individuals with and without chronic migraine. BDI = Beck Depression Inventory; CM = chronic migraine; STAI = State-Trait Anxiety Inventory; S = State; (+) = Positive affirmations (the higher the scores on the positive components of the STAI, the greater the losses regarding them); (-) = Negative statements; T = Trait. Shapiro-Wilk test for normality; Mann-Whitney test, ** p < 0.01. Results expressed as mean and SD, considering the NH (n=23) and CM (n=23) groups.
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