Adults with migraines have triple the prevalence of generalized anxiety disorder
The study, published this month in the journal Headache , pinpointed a number of possible factors linking migraine and generalized anxiety disorders. First author Professor Esme Fuller-Thomson, Sandra Rotman Endowed Chair at University of Toronto's Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work and Director of the Institute for Life Course & Aging explains, "this link between migraine and generalized anxiety disorders in the past year was partially explained by the disturbingly high prevalence of debilitating chronic pain (30%) and problems in managing household responsibilities (28%) among those with migraine." Co-author and recent MSW graduate from the University of Toronto, Janany Jayanthikumar added, "we were not surprised that chronic pain played a strong role in the link between migraines and generalized anxiety disorders. The unpredictable and uncontrollable nature of migraine pain can be extremely anxiety producing as it often interferes with family and wor...