Association of Tension Headache with Anxiety among Medical Students of Lahore, A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of anxiety and tension-type headaches among medical students has become a topic of growing concern, given the rigorous demands of medical education. Anxiety, characterized by feelings of worry, nervousness, or unease, has been closely linked with the occurrence of tension-type headaches, a common condition manifesting as bilateral, pressing pain in the head. The intersection of these conditions within the medical student population necessitates a deeper investigation to elucidate potential associations and contributing factors. Objective: This study aimed to explore the association between chronic tension-type headaches and anxiety among medical students in Lahore, focusing on the prevalence of these conditions and identifying any significant correlations between them. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted among 370 medical students in Lahore using convenient sampling. Data collection spanned from May 2020 to October 2020. Participants' anxiety levels were assessed using the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, and tension-type headaches were evaluated based on criteria from the International Classification of Headache Disorders-3. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 25, with a significance level set at p < 0.05. Results: The mean age of participants was 20.98 ± 1.8911 years, with 54.05% being female. The prevalence of chronic tension-type headaches was 72.97%, while anxiety levels were classified as mild (30.27%), moderate (32.97%), and severe (36.76%). A significant positive correlation (r = .348, p < .000) was observed between chronic tension-type headaches and anxiety levels among the medical students. Conclusion: The findings indicate a high prevalence of both chronic tension-type headaches and anxiety among medical students, with a significant association between these conditions. This underscores the need for medical educational institutions to implement comprehensive mental health and wellness programs to address these issues effectively.