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Vestibular migraine patients are more anxious than migraine patients without vestibular symptoms

Kutay Ö, Akdal G, Keskinoğlu P, Balcı BD, Alkın T

Journal of neurology, 2017

35 participants · 46 citations

Abstract

The link between vertigo and anxiety is well known. The aim of this study is to compare anxiety disorders in 3 groups: patients with vestibular migraine (VM), patients with migraine but without vertigo (MO) and healthy controls (HC).We performed cross-sectional analysis of following tests: (a) Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA); (b) State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-X1 and STAI-X2); (c) Beck Depression Inventory (BDI); (d) Panic-Agoraphobic Scale and (e) Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ). ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis and Chi-square tests were used for comparisons and least significant difference was used for further post-hoc analysis. There were 35 definite VM patients, 31 MO patients and 32 volunteer HC. There were no significant differences between three groups in age, total years of education or duration of headaches in VM and MO patients. On the other hand, vertigo severity was moderately and positively correlated with headache severity and with headache duration. There were significant differences in scores of HARS, BDI, PSWQ, and various PAS-R sub-scales between the three groups. Our study shows that VM patients are significantly more anxious and agoraphobic than MO patients and HC, displaying higher sensitivity to separation and being more prone to seeking medical reassurance.

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a cross-sectional, done in people. Its evidence level is 4 of 5 (Low · observational). Observational designs can show an association but not prove cause. Reported size: 35 participants or records.

How the five levels of evidence work. The level is assigned automatically from the abstract and can be wrong, so check the paper.

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