Türkel Nur Nihal, Vurallı Doğa, Bolay Belen Hayrunnisa, Kuruoğlu Aslı
Department of Psychiatry, Ankara Penitentiary Campus State Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
Department of Neurology and Algology, Neuroscience and Neurotechnology Center of Excellence (NÖROM), Neuropsychiatry Center, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
Headache. 2025 Sep;65(8):1439-1448. doi: 10.1111/head.14945. Epub 2025 May 5.
This study aimed to assess the frequency of autistic traits in patients with migraine and to examine the effect of autistic traits on migraine-related disability, as well as anxiety and depressive symptoms, through the mediating factors of anxiety sensitivity and sensory sensitivity.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and migraine are two distinct clinical conditions marked by impaired sensory processing. Both conditions induce widespread alterations in the brain and exhibit symptoms associated with sensory sensitivity. Research examining the relationship between migraine and autistic traits is sparse. Moreover, the occurrence of autistic traits in patients with migraine and their effect on headache-related disability and psychiatric comorbidities has not been thoroughly investigated.
This cross-sectional study included 169 patients with migraine and 112 healthy controls. Data collection for the study was conducted from November 2022 to May 2023. The Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Anxiety Sensitivity Index, and Dunn Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile were given to participants. The Headache Impact Test-6 and the Visual Analogue Scale were used to evaluate quality of life and headache intensity for patients with migraine. Analyses examined how autism affects migraine-related disability, anxiety, and depressive symptoms through anxiety and sensory sensitivity.
While 35% of patients with migraine were found to have autistic traits (AQ ≥ 23), this rate was found to be 17% in healthy controls. In the migraine group, autistic traits were positively correlated with sensory sensitivity, anxiety sensitivity, and depressive symptoms. Although autistic traits did not have a direct effect on headache-related disability and anxiety symptoms, indirect effects through anxiety sensitivity and sensory sensitivity were found to be significant (total indirect effect = 0.16, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [0.08, 0.25], total indirect effect = 0.24, 95% CI = [0.14, 0.33]). In addition, autistic traits had a direct effect on depressive symptoms. Indirect effects through anxiety sensitivity and sensory sensitivity were also significant (total indirect effect = 0.14, 95% CI = [0.08, 0.21]).
This study shows that autistic traits are more frequent among patients with migraine and that these traits exhibit indirect effects on headache-related disability and psychiatric comorbidities. Recognizing autistic traits in patients with migraine may be crucial for formulating methods to mitigate comorbidities and enhance the quality of life in this population.
Autism and migraine are two different conditions that affect the brain and sensory traits. We do not know much about how these two conditions affect each other, so we compared autism traits in people with migraine and healthy controls. We found that people with migraine are more likely to have autism traits, which can make migraine disability, anxiety, and depression worse; understanding and treating these traits could improve life quality for migraine patients.
本研究旨在评估偏头痛患者中自闭症特征的发生率，并通过焦虑敏感性和感官敏感性的中介因素，研究自闭症特征对偏头痛相关残疾以及焦虑和抑郁症状的影响。
自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）和偏头痛是两种不同的临床病症，其特征为感觉处理受损。这两种病症都会引起大脑广泛的变化，并表现出与感官敏感性相关的症状。研究偏头痛与自闭症特征之间关系的研究较少。此外，偏头痛患者中自闭症特征的发生率及其对头痛相关残疾和精神共病的影响尚未得到充分研究。
这项横断面研究纳入了169名偏头痛患者和112名健康对照。研究的数据收集于2022年11月至2023年5月进行。向参与者发放了自闭症谱系商数（AQ）、医院焦虑抑郁量表、焦虑敏感性指数和邓恩青少年/成人感官特征量表。使用头痛影响测试-6和视觉模拟量表来评估偏头痛患者的生活质量和头痛强度。分析考察了自闭症如何通过焦虑和感官敏感性影响偏头痛相关残疾、焦虑和抑郁症状。
虽然发现35%的偏头痛患者有自闭症特征（AQ≥23），但健康对照中的这一比例为17%。在偏头痛组中，自闭症特征与感官敏感性、焦虑敏感性和抑郁症状呈正相关。虽然自闭症特征对头痛相关残疾和焦虑症状没有直接影响，但通过焦虑敏感性和感官敏感性的间接影响是显著的（总间接效应=0.16，95%置信区间[CI]=[0.08，0.25]，总间接效应=0.24，95%CI=[0.14，0.33]）。此外，自闭症特征对抑郁症状有直接影响。通过焦虑敏感性和感官敏感性的间接影响也很显著（总间接效应=0.14，95%CI=[0.08，0.21]）。
本研究表明，自闭症特征在偏头痛患者中更为常见，并且这些特征对头痛相关残疾和精神共病有间接影响。识别偏头痛患者中的自闭症特征对于制定减轻共病和提高该人群生活质量的方法可能至关重要。
自闭症和偏头痛是两种影响大脑和感官特征的不同病症。我们对这两种病症如何相互影响了解不多，因此我们比较了偏头痛患者和健康对照中的自闭症特征。我们发现偏头痛患者更有可能有自闭症特征，这会使偏头痛残疾、焦虑和抑郁加重；了解和治疗这些特征可以提高偏头痛患者的生活质量。
