A.I. BURNASYAN FMBC CLINICAL BULLETIN

ISSN 2782-6430 (print)

State Research Center −Burnasyan Federal Medical Biophysical
Center of Federal Medical Biological Agency

The journal is published in Russian.
Format – A4.
The periodicity of the journal is 4 times a year.

Issue №1, 2026

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A.I. Burnasyan  FMBC clinical bulletin. 2026 № 1

M.S. Sevostyanova¹,²

The Role of Dysfunctional Cognitions in the Perpetuation of Comorbid Depression
in Women with Chronic Cephalalgia

¹Center for Industrial Medicine of the Federal State Budgetary Institution “Federal Siberian Scientific and Clinical Center of the Federal Medical and Biological Agency”, Krasnoyarsk, Russia

²Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education “Krasnoyarsk State Medical University named after Professor V.F. Voyno-Yasenetsky” of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Krasnoyarsk, Russia.

Contact person: Sevostyanova Natal’ya Victorovna: SevostyanovaMS@yandex.ru

 

Abstract
Chronic headaches affect 8 % of adults and are associated with a fivefold increased risk of comorbid recurrent depressive disorder. Despite this significant comorbidity, research on depression treatment in this specific clinical group remains limited. This study investigated the role of dysfunctional cognitions in exacerbating comorbid depression among chronic headache patients. Retrospective data from 36 adult women (18 – 55 years) diagnosed with chronic tension-type headache or migraine, comorbid with RDD, were analyzed using the MADRS, PCS, and CMQ. Findings revealed that 76.6 % of participants experienced severe depression, with symptoms significantly associated with various dysfunctional cognitions. Notably, strong positive correlations were observed for learned helplessness (k=0.803), danger catastrophizing, mindreading, personalization, general catastrophizing, and stubbornness. These results critically demonstrate the influence of specific cognitive patterns in maintaining comorbid depression in individuals with chronic headaches. The findings underscore the imperative for developing and adapting tailored cognitive behavioral therapy protocols to enhance the effectiveness of comprehensive treatment strategies for this vulnerable patient population.

Keywords: migraine, tension-type headache (TTH), recurrent depressive disorder (RDD), cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy (CBT), pain catastrophizing, cognitive distortions, cognitive restructuring, behavioral activation

For citation: Sevostyanova MS. The Role of Dysfunctional Cognitions in the Perpetuation of Comorbid Depression in Women with Chronic Cephalalgia. A.I. Burnasyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center Clinical Bulletin. 2026.1:70-75. (In Russian) DOI: 10.33266/2782-6430-2026-1-70-75

 

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Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Financing. The study had no sponsorship.
Contribution. Article was prepared with equal participation of the authors.
Article received: 29.11.2025. Accepted for publication: 27.12.2025

© 2026 Scientific journal - "Clinical Bulletin of the FMBС im. A.I. Burnasyan"
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