Abstract
Introduction
This study aims to evaluate difficulties in emotion regulation and accompanying psychiatric
symptoms in adolescents diagnosed with migraine.
Methods
The study included 30 adolescents aged 12 to 18 years diagnosed with migraine and
30 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Participants were assessed using the Difficulties
in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS-16), the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire for Children
and Adolescents (ERQ-CA), and the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS).
Additionally, parents completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ).
Results
Adolescents with migraine showed significantly greater difficulties in emotion regulation
(DERS-16 total score, t = 3.521, p = 0.026, effect size = 0.64) and higher levels of depression, generalized anxiety
and social anxiety (RCADS score t = 4.328, effect size = 1.32, p < 0.01; t = 2.354, effect size = 0.59, p = 0.022; t = 3.363, effect size = 1.12, p < 0.01, respectively) compared to controls. Parental assessments indicated higher
internalizing and total difficulty scores in the migraine group (SDQ score z = 2.633, effect size = 048, p = 0.008; t = 2.419, effect size = 032, p = 0.016; t = 2.095, effect size = 029, p = 0.036, respectively). However, there were no significant group differences in the
use of emotion regulation strategies (ERQ-CA score t = −0.236, p = 0.814; t = −0.957, p = 0.104, respectively).
Conclusion
This study highlights the psychological and emotional difficulties experienced by
adolescents with migraine, emphasizing the importance of early psychiatric evaluation
and psychotherapeutic interventions aimed at improving emotion regulation skills and
psychosocial interventions focusing on lifestyle modifications as part of comprehensive
migraine management. Limitations include the cross-sectional design, reliance on self-report
measures, and modest sample size, which may limit generalizability. Future longitudinal
and neurobiologically informed research is needed to clarify causal relationships
and intervention targets.
Keywords
adolescent - anxiety - depression - emotion regulation - migraine
