Abstract
BackgroundMost patients with migraine report photophobia associated with headache; a subset report interictal photophobia. These patients are light sensitive even during headache-free periods. The objective of this case–control study was to assess the prevalence of symptoms of anxiety and depression in migraine patients with and without interictal photophobia.MethodsWe recruited 16 subjects with migraine and interictal photophobia, 16 age- and gender-matched migraine subjects without interictal photophobia, and 16 age- and gender- matched controls. Migraine subjects met International Headache Society classification criteria. Participants completed a photophobia questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Chi-square analyses and two-tailed Wilcoxon rank sum tests were used for the analyses.ResultsSubjects with interictal photophobia had significantly higher scores on the photophobia questionnaire compared to subjects without interictal photophobia. Subjects with interictal photophobia had significantly higher scores on the BDI-II and BAI compared to subjects without interictal photophobia.ConclusionsMigraine patients with interictal photophobia are more likely to manifest symptoms of depression and anxiety compared to migraine patients without interictal photophobia. Care providers should be aware of increased prevalence of these symptoms in this population and consider appropriate referrals. Future research could assess whether treatment of photophobia leads to improvements in symptoms of depression and anxiety in migraine patients.
Highlights
Most patients with migraine report photophobia associated with headache; a subset report interictal photophobia
We approached this question by determining the prevalence of symptoms of depression and anxiety in migraine patients with interictal photophobia, migraine patients without interictal photophobia and a control group
Our study suggests that the relationship between migraine with interictal photophobia, anxiety and depression may be multidirectional, with each of these entities influencing the other
Summary
Most patients with migraine report photophobia associated with headache; a subset report interictal photophobia. These patients are light sensitive even during headache-free periods. The objective of this case– control study was to assess the prevalence of symptoms of anxiety and depression in migraine patients with and without interictal photophobia. To the best of our knowledge, the relationship between interictal photophobia associated with migraine and depression and anxiety has never been investigated. In this observational pilot study we wished to better understand the relationships between interictal photophobia, depression and anxiety. We approached this question by determining the prevalence of symptoms of depression and anxiety in migraine patients with interictal photophobia, migraine patients without interictal photophobia and a control group
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