Evaluation of anxiety and depression in childhood migraine

T. Braccili, D. Montebello, P. Verdecchia, R. Crenca, A. Redondi, E. Turri, R. Turaccio, D. Lendvai

Department of Pediatrics Division, “Diagnosi e Cura Cefalee Infantili”, “La Sapienza” University – Rome (Italy)

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• Neurology

Abstract. – Childhood migraine can be the expression of an inconscious attempt of the small patient to show a discomfort which is denied through the defence of somatization. We considered a sample of 73 children, 39 males and 34 females suffering from migraine. We evaluated the presence of emotional disorders through diagnostic interviews consisting of one by one submission of the Anxiety Scale Questionnaire for Evolutive Age and the Children Depression Scale Test. Within our sample we are able to distinguish three groups: a first group negative for both anxiety and depressive disorders, thus defined as control group; a second group presenting anxiety depressive disorders and a third one presenting a mostly depressive symptomatology. We found a significantly higher incidence of migraine in male firstborn children belonging to the group with a condition associated to anxiety and depression.

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