Slow cortical potentials in migraine families are associated with psychosocial factors

Objective: The aim of the study was the determination of the relationships between neurophysiological and psychosocial factors within the pathogenesis of migraine. Methods: The contingent negative variation (CNV), parent-child interactions and theirs relationship were investigated in 30 families with a migraine child and 20 healthy families. Results: (1) None of the groups of children, independent of diagnosis, differed according to amplitude or habituation of the CNV. (2) Parents from migraine families exerted significantly more control over migraine children compared with interactions with healthy brothers/sisters. (3) The strong relation between CNV habituation/amplitude and abnormal pattern of parent-child interactions (especially overwhelming dominance and control) was found only for young migraineurs. This relation was not seen in healthy families or for healthy siblings of migraine children. Conclusion: This study provides significant evidence for a strong influence of family interactions on the development and maintenance of neurophysiological abnormalities in the migraineous headache. The role of psychosocial factors in the etiopathogenesis of migraine has to be investigated in further studies in more detail. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.