ABSTRACT
Background and Objectives: Headache is an extremely common symptom and collectively headachedisorders are among the most common of the nervous system disorders. Primary headache disorders –migraine, tension headache and cluster headache – constitute nearly 98% of all headaches; however,secondary headaches are important to recognize as they are serious and may be life threatening. The aim ofthis study is to study the prevalence of depression, anxiety and subtypes of depression and anxiety withheadaches, using pertinent clinical test profiles.Methods: A cross sectional survey conducted to study depression and anxiety symptoms in patients withheadache presenting in neurology OPD with study of MRI findings and associated medical co morbidities.Data was collected over a period of 2 months and study setting was at MGM Medical College, NaviMumbai.Results: 32% reported no depressive features, while 36% reported features suggestive of mild depression,18% had moderate depression, 8% had severe depression and 6 % reported to have very severe depression.60% of the patients reported to have mild anxiety while 22% had mild to moderate anxiety and 18% hadmoderate to severe anxiety.Conclusion: Depressive disorders are very common comorbid psychiatric disorders among the patientspresenting with headache followed by anxiety disorders. Female gender is more likely to suffer from anunderlying Depressive or Anxiety disorder. Tension type headache is one of the most common presentationin majority of these patients. Familial stressors, adjustment problems, marital disharmony and financialstressors add to the occurrence of Headache as recurring symptom as it was seen in our study.