Prevalence of depression among patients with primary headache and secondary headache.

Abstract

Headache is a very common condition worldwide and may have serious consequences on effective functioning of an individual. It may also lead to emotional consequences or may be a result of emotional burden. Psychiatric comorbidity is also very common among patients with headache. Objectives: The main aim of the study was to assess depression among patients presenting to neurosurgery OPD with chief complaints of headache. Study Design: Cross Sectional Study. Setting: Neurosurgery OPD of a Tertiary Care Government Hospital Mardan Medical Complex located in Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Period: September 2018-February 2019. Material & Methods: Patients presenting to neurosurgery OPD of Mardan medical complex, Mardan with chief complaints of headache were included in the study. Demographic information sheet was used to obtain important demographic information. Informed consent form was filled and signed from each participant. Hamilton Depression rating scale was used to assess symptoms of depression among the participants. Results: Most of the study patients 93 (74.4%) had primary headache, while 32 (25.6%) had secondary headache. The results of the study found that highest prevalence of depression was present among patients with tension type headache (88 %) as compared to migraine (78 %) and secondary headache (84 %).  Moderate depression was present among 32 % of the study population, while 28 % had severe depression. Conclusion: These findings suggest that depression is very common among patients with headache. Primary health care practitioners should assess for symptoms of depression for better management of the course and prognosis of the patients presenting with complaints of headache.