Dream-enacting behaviour is associated with impaired sleep and severe headache-related disability in migraine patients.

BACKGROUND

Sleep disorders, nightmares and visual hallucinations have been reported in migraine patients, which may suggest the involvement of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep regulation in migraine. However, the relationship between migraine and REM sleep behaviour disorder (RBD) remains unclear.

METHODS

To investigate the clinical correlates of dream-enacting behaviours (DEB) in migraine patients, we assessed episodic migraine patients ( N  = 161, mean age 33.1 years) and headache-free control subjects ( N  = 140, mean age 33.1 years) under 50 years of age in a cross-sectional, case-control study. The Japanese version of the RBD screening questionnaire was used, and subjects scoring 5 or higher were defined as having DEB.

RESULTS

A significantly increased frequency of DEB was observed in migraine patients compared to controls (24.2% vs. 14.3%). Migraine patients with DEB presented higher scores on the Migraine Disability Assessment and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and an increased rate of smoking compared to those without DEB. Duration of migraine and headache frequency and intensity were not different between migraine patients with or without DEB.

CONCLUSION

DEB was associated with impaired sleep and severe headache-related disability in migraine patients and may reflect brainstem dysfunction and increased brain excitability in migraine patients.