Migraine life-time prevalence in mental disorders: concurrent comparisons with first-degree relatives and the general population.

The authors quantified the prevalence of migraine in subjects with mental disorders, first-degree relatives and the adult general population (GP) in Mérida, Venezuela. After validation, a modified, short version of the Lipton's diagnostic scale was administered to consecutively admitted in- and out-patients (n = 1059), their first-degree relatives (n = 445) and a probabilistic sample of the GP (n = 516). In the GP, the frequency of migraine (percentage and 95% confidence interval) was 14.9 (11.8-17.9). The migraine frequencies were (percentage and odd ratio probability against the GP: bipolar disorder (15.7%, p = 0.5), schizophrenia (8.3%, p = 0.08), depression and dysthimia (24.4%, p = 0.2), anxiety disorders (10.0%, p = 0.02), personality disorders (11.4%, p = 0.15), all other disorders (15.5%, p = 0.4), relatives of bipolar patients (4.4%, p < 0.001), relatives of schizophrenia patients (3.5%, p = 0.003), and relatives of patients with all other mental disorders (12.8%, p = 0.4). Migraine was more common in women (p < 0.001), and the bipolar patients presented the highest female to male ratio (8:1). A high variability was observed in migraine prevalence among the diagnostic categories, but it was particularly high in subjects with affective disorders, mainly in women, who thus deserve special attention from clinicians.

Migraine life-time prevalence in mental disorders: concurrent comparisons with first-degree relatives and the general population / Prevalencia de migraña en trastornos mentales: comparación concurrente con familiares de primer grado y con la población general

The authors quantified the prevalence of migraine in subjects with mental disorders, first-degree relatives and the adult general population (GP) in Mérida, Venezuela. After validation, a modified, short version of the Lipton’s diagnostic scale was administered to consecutively admitted in- and out-patients (n = 1059), their first-degree relatives (n = 445) and a probabilistic sample of the GP (n = 516). In the GP, the frequency of migraine (percentage and 95% confidence interval) was 14.9 (11.8-17.9). The migraine frequencies were (percentage and odd ratio probability against the GP: bipolar disorder (15.7%, p = 0.5), schizophrenia (8.3%, p = 0.08), depression and dysthimia (24.4%, p = 0.2), anxiety disorders (10.0%, p = 0.02), personality disorders (11.4%, p = 0.15), all other disorders (15.5%, p = 0.4), relatives of bipolar patients (4.4%, p < 0.001), relatives of schizophrenia patients (3.5%, p = 0.003), and relatives of patients with all other mental disorders (12.8%, p = 0.4). Migraine was more common in women (p < 0.001), and the bipolar patients presented the highest female to male ratio (8:1). A high variability was observed in migraine prevalence among the diagnostic categories, but it was particularly high in subjects with affective disorders, mainly in women, who thus deserve special attention from clinicians.

Los autores cuantificaron la prevalencia de migraña en sujetos con trastornos mentales, sus familiares de primer grado y la población general (PG) en Mérida, Venezuela. Se utilizó una versión abreviada de la escala diagnostica de Lipton. Luego de un estudio de validez, tal escala se administró a pacientes ambulatorios u hospitalizados atendidos en forma consecutiva (n = 1.059), a sus familiares de primer grado (n = 445) y a una muestra probabilística de la PG (n = 516). La frecuencia de migraña en la PG (porcentaje e intervalo de confianza de 95%) fue de 14,9 (11,8-17,9). La frecuencia para los diversos trastornos (porcentaje y probabilidad asociada a la razón de momios (odds ratio) con respecto a la PG) fue: trastorno bipolar (15,7%, p = 0,5), esquizofrenia (8,3%, p = 0,08), depresión y distimia (24,4%, p = 0,2), trastornos de ansiedad (10,0%, p = 0,02), trastornos de personalidad (11,4%, p = 0,15), todos los otros trastornos (15,5%, p = 0,4). En los familiares, la frecuencia fue: trastorno bipolar (4,4%, p < 0,001), esquizofrenia (3,5%, p = 0,003), otros trastornos (12,8%, p = 0,4). El diagnóstico de migraña fue más frecuente en mujeres (p < 0,001), y los sujetos con trastorno bipolar presentaron el mayor índice mujer:hombre (8:1). Se observó una alta variabilidad en la prevalencia de migraña en las diversas categorías diagnósticas. Tal frecuencia fue particularmente elevada en sujetos con trastornos afectivos, principalmente en mujeres, las cuales ameritan una atención especial por parte de los médicos tratantes.

The metabolic syndrome and its constituting variables in atypical antipsychotic-treated subjects: comparison with other drug treatments, drug-free psychiatric patients, first-degree relatives and the general population in Venezuela.

BACKGROUND: Few studies on the association between atypical antipsychotic drug (AAP) administration and metabolic dysfunction have concurrently evaluated the general population (GP), other psychotropic drug treatments and drug-free psychiatric patients. METHODS: We assessed the frequency of the metabolic syndrome (MS) according to the National Cholesterol Education Program criteria (NCEP) and its constituting variables in a GP sample (n=271) and in patients receiving, for at least three consecutive months, antiepileptic drugs (n=93), olanzapine (n=162), clozapine (n=105), typical antipsychotics (n=117), other AAP (n=58), other psychotropic drugs (n=185), and drug-free individuals (n=636). Subjects were clinically classified as schizophrenia, bipolar or other axis I disorders (DSM-IV-RT), and as first-degree relatives of each diagnostic group. RESULTS: The MS was detected in 26.6% of the GP (95% confidence interval: 21.5-31.8). No diagnostic or treatment group had a significantly higher age-adjusted frequency than the GP (p>0.05). Treatment duration did not significantly affect the results. However, significant differences were observed in the frequency of abnormal MS constituting variables in comparison to the GP. For example, schizophrenia patients and their relatives, bipolar subjects and olanzapine- and clozapine-treated patients had higher abnormal waist circumference values. In addition, bipolar patients and their relatives and subjects treated with olanzapine and other AAPs had higher frequencies of abnormal glucose levels. Neither schizophrenia nor bipolar patients in the diagnostic categories nor the olanzapine or the clozapine groups displayed higher proportions of abnormal triglycerides, high density cholesterol or blood pressure levels than the GP. CONCLUSIONS: While we did not demonstrate an increased frequency of the MS in AAP-treated subjects, our results confirm that specific metabolic variables must be monitored in psychiatric patients. Besides they stress the importance, in epidemiological studies, of concurrently comparing the figures recorded in AAP-treated patients with those obtained in the local GP, other drug treatment groups and drug-free subjects when referring to the magnitude of the metabolic effects of specific antipsychotic agents.