Headache and Mood: A Time-Series Analysis of Self-Ratings

Abstract

Self-ratings with respect to headache and five mood dimensions were obtained twice daily from five patients suffering from migraine and six patients suffering from muscle-contraction headache during a mean period of 47.9 days (range: 38–61). The data were analysed by multiple regression, with the rated headache as dependent variable. Different time intervals between measurement of the independent variables and measurement of the dependent variable were used. A significant time-dependent relation was found between the migraine ratings and the alertness ratings. Significant time-dependent relations were also found between rated muscle-contraction headache and rated anger and alertness, respectively, but the trends were not very pronounced. In the case of no time lag, rated muscle-contraction headache tended to be negatively related to rated alertness, happiness and concentration. Significant periodic trends were found for both the migraine and the muscle-contraction headache. The major findings are discussed in terms of stress and biological rhythms.