Changes in the rest-activity rhythm in migraine patients are associated with anxiety symptoms.

OBJECTIVE

To characterize rest-activity rhythm in chronic migraine (CM) and to investigate the relationship between this rhythm and depressive and anxiety symptoms in patients with CM.

METHODS

This was a study of adults aged 20 to 40 years. The rest-activity rhythm of patients with CM (n=23) and non-headache controls (NH, n=23) was assessed by actigraphy for 15 days, and they completed the following assessments: Visual Analogue Scale for pain intensity; Headache Diary; Headache Impact Test-6; Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire; Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index; Epworth Sleepiness Scale; Beck Depression Inventory; and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory.

RESULTS

Patients with CM showed less activity over 24 hours and more fragmented sleep. Reduced interdaily stability of the rest-activity rhythm was observed, with less robustness of this rhythm in the CM group. Multiple linear regressions revealed a significant association between the rest-activity rhythm and trait anxiety variables in patients with CM, specifically regarding the relative amplitude of the cycle, activity throughout 24 hours and during sleep, and robustness of the rest-activity rhythm.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings provide evidence that the robustness of the rest-activity rhythm, activity throughout 24 hours, and sleep fragmentation are associated with trait anxiety in patients with CM.