Better Mental Health impacts Migraine

Three in five (63%) Canadians with migraines are in excellent mental health, despite experiencing a disabling disorder, as per a study at the University of Toronto, published in the journal Annals of Headache Medicine. "This research provides a very hopeful message for individuals struggling with migraines, their families, and health professionals. The findings of our study have contributed to a major paradigm shift for me. There are important lessons to be learned from those who are flourishing," says lead author Esme Fuller-Thomson.

Migraine is the seventh most disabling disorder in the world that affects one in eight Americans. However, factors that are associated with mental health and well-being among those who experience them are not very well investigated.

The present study analyzed the optimal mental health of more than 2,186 Canadians with migraines from Statistics Canada's Canadian Community Health Survey-Mental Health. Three aspects of mental health were explored: 1) almost daily happiness or life satisfaction in the past month, 2) high levels of social and psychological well-being in the past month, and 3) freedom from generalized anxiety disorder and depressive disorders, suicidal thoughts and substance dependence for at least the preceding full year.

Mental Health and Migraine

It was found that more than three in every five migraineurs had excellent mental health with high levels of well-being.

Patients having at least one trustworthy person in their lives revealed almost four times better mental health when compared to those without a confidant. Those who had religious or spiritual beliefs to cope with everyday difficulties showed 86% higher odds of excellent mental health than those who did not use spiritual coping.

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Factors like poor physical health, functional limitations, and a history of depression posed impediments to excellent mental health among those with migraines.

"Health professionals who are treating individuals with migraines need to consider their patients' physical health needs and possible social isolation in their treatment plans," says co-author Marta Sadkowski, a recent nursing graduate from the University of Toronto.

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Source-Medindia