A STUDY ON DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY COMORBIDITY IN NON-ORGANIC CHRONIC HEADACHE PATIENTS

Abstract

BACKGROUND Nonorganic chronic headache is a common, challenging presentation in
clinical practice. There is ample Western studies which evaluate the co-occurence of Anxiety and
Depressive in Chronic head ache patients. Studies on Indian population about psychiatric comorbidity
of Chronic headache are meagre. Hence this current study has been ventured. AIM To analyse the
Psychiatric comorbidity of anxiety and depression in Non-organic chronic headache
patients.METHOD 30 Patients, both Males and Females between age group of 13 to 50 years with
history of Chronic head ache (duration more than 3 months) who have been evaluated by an
Ophthalmologist, an ENT surgeon, a Neurologist with CT brain revealing normal findings have been
recruited for study at Institute of Neurology, Madras Medical College. Hospital Anxiety and
Depression rating scale has been used as a screening tool and SCID for DSM IV has been
administered. MAIN RESULTS Out of the total sample of 30 numbers, Those who had comorbid
psychiatric diagnosis were 18, Most common diagnostic entities were GAD and Depression.
CONCLUSION Most patients suffering from chronic Non Organic Head ache also suffer from comorbid
Anxiety disorders which should be addressed to get better outcomes.