Stress related depression and anxiety in young girls with chronic headache

Objective: The present study aimed to examine the role of stress for the development and maintenance of anxiety and depression in young girls with chronic headache.

Methods and Materials: The degree of depression and anxiety was studied in 148 young girls with either migraine or tension type headache. Physical and psychological stress load was measured by validated questionnaires. As a biological indicator of stress the cortisol awakening response was analyzed.

Results: Multiple regression showed significant relationships between stress load and depression as well as anxiety. The predictive power of physical stress symptoms was larger for anxiety. Cortisol after awakening was significantly more correlated to anxiety than to depression.

Conclusion: The stress load of young girls with chronic headache seems to be an important factor in explaining depression as well as anxiety symptoms of these young adolescents. The greater predictive power of physical stress symptoms for anxiety might be due to a focusing on bodily changes as a consequence of headache. Treatment programs for chronic headache should include specific interventions addressing stress coping with depression and anxiety.