Psychiatric Co-Morbidity in Patients Presenting with Primary Headache

Abstract

Background: Headache is a common neurological disorder and most disabling conditions in the worldwide. Psychiatric disorders can occur with at least two to three-fold greater frequencies among the patients presenting with headache than among general population. The presence of psychiatric co-morbidity further complicates headache management and portends a poorer prognosis. Therefore, the present study of psychiatric co-morbidity in patients presenting with primary headache and to know the nature and extent of psychiatric co-morbidity associated with headache among the patients was undertaken. Methods: Present sample consists of 62 patients who presented with the complaints of headache to the department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychiatry from August 2016 to June 2018 was included in the study. MINI 7.0.0 was applied to elicit the presence of any Psychiatric disorder. Results: In this study 65% of the patients presenting with headache had co-morbid psychiatric disorders. Out of 65% of the psychiatric illnesses; 43.55% had MDD, 14.52% had GAD, 3.23% had Panic disorder and 3.23%had Social phobia among the patients presenting with headache. Conclusions: Patients presenting with headache have high levels of co-morbid psychiatric disorders. In view of the present findings, the management of patients presenting with headache should include the detail assessment of coexisting psychopathology and treatment of both coexisting conditions.