[Achievement motivation in children with migraine and their healthy siblings].

Abstract

QUESTIONS:

Psychosocial variables like stress or a high achievement motivation are discussed as a possible contributory factor to an attack in migraine. The aim of our study was to examine, whether children with migraine may be at risk for impaired achievement motivation.

PATIENTS/METHODS:

37 children with migraine and their 17 non-affected siblings, were examined by means of an especially developed test for achievement motivation and by the Kaufman-Assessment-Battery for Children (K-ABC).

RESULTS:

There were no significant differences in achievement motivation and cognition between both groups. Children with migraine and their siblings demonstrated a neurocognitive performance within the average normal test range. There was a slight positive correlation between an atypical achievement motivation and the duration of migraine attacks.

CONCLUSION:

In general there are no signs of a pathologically elevated achievement motivation in children with migraine, but we found evidence that there might be a subgroup of patients, within whom an atypical achievement motivation might serve as a trigger variable, and who might profit from relaxation techniques and psychological-educational counselling.

• Authors: F Haverkamp, A Hönscheid, M Rünger, A Krois, A Harbauer
• Journal: Klinische Padiatrie (Klin Padiatr) 2005 Jul-Aug Vol. 217 Issue 4 Pg. 234-7 ISSN: 0300-8630 [Print] Germany
• Vernacular Title: Leistungsmotivation bei Kindern mit Migräne und ihren gesunden Geschwistern.
• PMID: 16032550 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, English Abstract, Journal Article)

Topics

• Child
• Educational Status
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Migraine Disorders (psychology)
• Motivation
• Neuropsychological Tests (statistics & numerical data)
• Psychometrics (statistics & numerical data)
• Reference Values
• Risk Factors
• Siblings (psychology)