• W D Gerber and D Fuchs.
• Abteilung Medizinische Psychologie, Zentrum für Nervenheilkunde, Niemannsweg 147, D-2300, Kiel.
• Schmerz. 1989 Dec 1;3(4):189-94.

AbstractPathophysiological models of migraine describe stress as a potential activator of migraine. Clinical observations have shown that stress over prolonged periods leads to migraine, particularly in the relaxation period (e.g. sleep) that follows the stress situations. However, psychophysiological investigations have not been able to prove a direct correlation between stress and the reaction of peripheral and central vascular mechanisms. For this reason, a response specificity in migraine has not been postulated to date. The present paper discusses the relationship between stress, physiological and biochemical processes with regard to a diathesis-stress model of migraine. In an experiment, 17 migraine patients were compared with 16 controls with regard to reactivity of the peripheral resistance of the temporal artery during extremely aversive stress. The peripheral resistance was measured by Doppler ultrasonography. The results showed a significant response specificity in migraine patients with respect to peripheral resistance. The results are discussed using a diathesis-stress model of migraine.

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