Early Maladaptive Schemas in Patients with and without Migraineand Tension Headaches

Objectives: there are some comorbidity between migraine, tension headaches, and some psychologicalfactors including early maladaptive schemas (emss). this research aimed to identify the emssassociated with migraine and tension headaches.methods: the present study was of cross sectional and correlational studies. the measures includedheadache disability inventory and young early maladaptive schemas questionnaire (short form). thepopulation of the study was tehran adult patients with migraine and tension headache aged 18 to 55years. the final study sample included 69 participants with migraine or tension headaches and 86 nonclinicalsamples of both genders. after referring by psychiatrists, they were selected by convenient andtargeted sampling. the two groups were matched based on sex and education.results: migraine and tension headache sufferers and non-clinical participants were significantlydifferent in 9 schemas including emotional deprivation, abandonment/ instability, mistrust/ abuse, socialisolation/ alienation, failure to achieve, enmeshment / undeveloped self, subjugation, self-sacrifice andemotional inhibition. in addition, a series of emss could significantly predict 61 percent of the totalchange in position of tension headaches or migraine group correctly.discussion: it seems that emss are important factors influencing migraine and tension headaches. therecognition and manipulation of these schemas along with other medical therapies can result in reducingthe symptoms of the disorder.