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Migraine, Osmophobia, and Anxiety

Rocha-Filho PA, Marques KS, Torres RC, Leal KN

Pain medicine (Malden, Mass.), 2016

147 participants

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the association between osmophobia and the characteristics of patients and their headaches, among migraine patients.

METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study. Patients who consecutively sought medical attendance in a primary care unit were asked about their headaches over the last 12 months. Those who had migraine were included. A semi-structured interview, the Headache Impact Test and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were used.

RESULTS: 147 patients had migraine; 78 had osmophobia; 60 had significant anxiety symptoms; and 78 had significant depression symptoms. The mean age of these patients was 43.2 years (± 13.7); 91.2% were women. The mean length of time with complaints of headache was 13.8 years (± 12). Among the migraine patients, those with anxiety, more years of headache history, and phonophobia presented significantly more osmophobia (multivariate logistic regression).

CONCLUSION: Osmophobia in migraine patients is associated with significant anxiety symptoms, length of headache history, and phonophobia.

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: 147 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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