Stress at work in migraine patients: differences in attack frequency.

INTRODUCTION: Migraine is a common and prevalent disease that contributes to health expenditure and interferes with quality of life. Our goal was to analyse the level of stress at work in a sample of migraine and its possible association with the chronicity of the process MATERIAL AND METHODS: We applied the Maslach Burnout Inventory, consisting of 22 items grouped into blocks that assess emotional exhaustion (EE), personal accomplishment (PA), depersonalisation at work (DP)] and positive influence (PI), to 94 consecutive subjects recruited in the outpatient clinic. Differences were compared between clinical groups (chronic migraine [CM]: > 15 days/month with headache over a 3-month period vs episodic migraine [EM]: < 15 days/month with headache) using the general linear model adjusted for age and MIDAS score RESULTS: The mean age was higher in the CM group. Mean MIDAS scores were 51 ± 4.1 in CM, and 17.7 ± 15 in EM (P=.001). Adjusted means for EE were 24.6 ± 2.6 in CM patients, 16.2 ± 2.6 in EM patients, and 13.4 ± 2.3 (P=.03) in the healthy group. MIDAS scale scores were inversely correlated to PA (P<.05) DISCUSSION: Our results suggest that the level of EE at work is higher in EM than in CM patients, while PA levels decrease as impact on the MIDAS scale increases. The Maslach scale is a potentially useful tool for studying migraine impact. Surprisingly, EE is higher in patients with fewer episodes; this tendency could be related to stress adaptation mechanisms present in patients with chronic illness.

Estrés laboral en pacientes migrañosos: diferencias según la frecuencia de las crisis / Stress at work in migraine patients: Differences in attack frequency

Introducción: La migraña es un trastorno común y prevalente que contribuye considerablemente al gasto sanitario e interfiere en la calidad de vida de los pacientes. Nuestro objetivo fue explorar el nivel de estrés en el trabajo en una muestra de migrañosos y su posible asociación con la cronicidad del proceso Material y métodos: Se aplicó el test de Maslach («burnout inventory»: 22 ítems agrupados en bloques que valoran: agotamiento emocional [AE], realización personal [RP], despersonalización en el trabajo [DP]) e influencia positiva (IP) a 94 sujetos consecutivos reclutados en consultas. Las diferencias se compararon entre grupos clínicos (migraña crónica [MC] -más de 15 días/mes de cefalea/3 meses- vs. migraña episódica [ME] -< 15 días/mes-) mediante el modelo lineal general ajustado por edad y MIDAS. Resultados: La edad media fue superior en MC. Las puntuaciones medias en la escala MIDAS fueron 51 ± 4,1 en MC y 17,7 ± 15 en ME (p = 0,001). La media ajustada de AE fue en ME 24,6 ± 2,6, en MC 16,2 ± 2,6 y en controles 13,4 ± 2,3 (p = 0,03). La escala MIDAS se correlacionó inversamente con RP (p < 0,05). Discusión: Nuestros resultados señalan que el nivel de AE es mayor en ME que en MC; mientras la RP es peor cuanto mayor impacto tiene la migraña según escala MIDAS. La escala Maslach es una herramienta potencialmente útil en el estudio de las repercusiones de la migraña. Sorprendentemente, el AE es mayor en pacientes con menos crisis, lo que podría relacionarse con mecanismos de adaptación al estrés presentes en el paciente crónico

Introduction: Migraine is a common and prevalent disease that contributes to health expenditure and interferes with quality of life. Our goal was to analyse the level of stress at work in a sample of migraine and its possible association with the chronicity of the process Material and methods: We applied the Maslach Burnout Inventory, consisting of 22 items grouped into blocks that assess emotional exhaustion (EE), personal accomplishment (PA), depersonalisation at work (DP)] and positive influence (PI), to 94 consecutive subjects recruited in the outpatient clinic. Differences were compared between clinical groups (chronic migraine [CM]: > 15 days/month with headache over a 3-month period vs episodic migraine [EM]: < 15 days/month with headache) using the general linear model adjusted for age and MIDAS score Results: The mean age was higher in the CM group. Mean MIDAS scores were 51 ± 4.1 in CM, and 17.7 ± 15 in EM (P=.001). Adjusted means for EE were 24.6 ± 2.6 in CM patients, 16.2 ± 2.6 in EM patients, and 13.4 ± 2.3 (P=.03) in the healthy group. MIDAS scale scores were inversely correlated to PA (P < .05). Discussion: Our results suggest that the level of EE at work is higher in EM than in CM patients, while PA levels decrease as impact on the MIDAS scale increases. The Maslach scale is a potentially useful tool for studying migraine impact. Surprisingly, EE is higher in patients with fewer episodes; this tendency could be related to stress adaptation mechanisms present in patients with chronic illness