Internet addiction, headache, and insomnia in university students: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: There is controversy about whether there is an association between headache and internet addiction. Therefore, the objective was to assess whether there is an association between the headache, insomnia, and internet addiction. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study with 420 university students. We used a semi-structured questionnaire, Headache Impact Test, Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale, Insomnia Severity Index, and Internet Addiction Test. RESULTS: 51.4% were men, the median age was 21 (19, 23), 399 (95.0%) suffered from headaches in the last year, 265 (63.1%) had migraine, 182 (43.3%) had migraine with aura, 119 (28.3%) had episodic tension-type headache, 84 (20%) had internet addiction, and 95 (22.6%) had insomnia. Internet addiction was associated with anxiety (OR = 2.3; 95% CI: 1.3, 4.0; p = 0.003), insomnia (OR = 3.0; 95% CI: 2.0, 4.6; p < 0.001), and migraine with aura (OR = 1.8; 95% CI: 1.1, 2.9; p = 0.066) (logistic regression). The severity of internet dependence is associated with the impact of headache (p = 0.047) and with the severity of insomnia (p < 0.001) (multiple linear regression). CONCLUSIONS: Internet addiction was associated with anxiety, migraine with aura, and insomnia. The severity of internet addiction is associated with the severity of the headache and with the severity of insomnia.

The prevalence and severity of insomnia in university students and their associations with migraine, tension-type headache, anxiety and depression disorders: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: There is possibly an association between migraine, tension-type headache, anxiety, depression and insomnia. These conditions are prevalent among university students. Our primary objective was to verify whether students with primary headaches (migraine and tension-type headache) have a higher prevalence of insomnia. Our secondary objective was to assess whether the impact of headaches was associated with greater severity of insomnia. METHODS: Cross-sectional study. 440 students out of 3030 were randomly selected. A semi-structured questionnaire containing information about the characteristics of the headaches, including their frequencies in the last 3 months; the Headache Impact Test (HIT-6); the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale; and the Insomnia Severity Index were used. RESULTS: 420 students (95.5%) agreed to participate; 51.4% men; median age of 21 (19, 23); 95 (22.6%) had insomnia; 265 (63.1%), migraine; 152 (36.2%), tension-type headache; 201 (47.9%) suffered from anxiety and 108 (25.7%), from depression. The severe impact of headache (HIT-6>55 points; OR = 3.9; p = 0.003) and anxiety (OR = 3.6; p = 0.003) were associated with insomnia (logistic regression). The severity of insomnia was positively and significantly correlated with the impact (HIT-6 score), with frequency of headache, and with having anxiety (multiple linear regression). CONCLUSIONS: The diagnoses of migraine and tension-type headache are not associated with the presence of insomnia. The severity of insomnia is associated with the impact and the frequency of the headaches.