The Stress and Migraine Interaction

Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain
Volume 49 Issue 9, Pages 1378 - 1386
Published Online: 8 Jul 2009

Copyright © 2009 American Headache Society
CURRENT REVIEW: BASIC SCIENCE

Khara M. Sauro MSc; Werner J. Becker MD, FRCPC
From the University of Calgary and Alberta Health Services, Calgary, AB, Canada.
Correspondence to W.J. Becker, Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Foothills Medical Centre, 1403 29th St. N.W., Calgary, AB, Canada.
Conflict of Interest: None

Copyright Copyright © 2009 American Headache Society

ABSTRACT
There are several ways in which stress may interact with migraine in those predisposed to migraine attacks. These interactions may result from biochemical changes related to the physiological stress response, as, for example, the release of corticotrophin releasing hormone, or from changes induced by the psychological response to stressors. Stress is the factor listed most often by migraine sufferers as a trigger for their attacks, but in addition there is evidence that stress can help initiate migraine in those predisposed to the disorder, and may also contribute to migraine chronification. Migraine attacks themselves can act as a stressor, thereby potentially leading to a vicious circle of increasing migraine frequency. Since the important factor in the stress–migraine interaction is likely the individual's responses to stressors, rather than the stressors themselves, the acquisition of effective stress management skills has the potential to reduce the impact of stressors on those with migraine.


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