Objectives
Migraine is one of the common diseases of children, which can disrupt their quality of life. Some studies have shown the effect of melatonin in reducing migraine headaches. This study aims to investigate the effect of melatonin administration in reducing headaches in children with migraine without sleep disorders.
Materials & Methods
In this clinical trial study, fifty-five children aged five to 15 years with migraines who had no sleep disorder were enrolled. The control group (twenty-seven patients) was treated with propranolol tablets, and the intervention group (thirty patients) was treated with propranolol tablets plus melatonin tablets for three months. Patients were visited before, one month, and three months after the start of treatment, and their data was collected and recorded.
Results
The number of headache attacks decreased significantly in the intervention group compared to the control group three months after the treatment (P=0.006). The number of patients with a good response to treatment in the intervention group was significantly more than the control group (p=0.023). Parents’ satisfaction with the treatment in the intervention group was significantly higher than the control group (P=0.026). There was no significant difference in the intensity of disability caused by headaches after treatment in the two groups. No significant drug side effects were seen in any of the two groups.
Conclusion
Adding melatonin to the treatment of children with migraine without sleep disorders significantly reduces the frequency of headache attacks and increases satisfaction with the treatment

1- Eleni Bompori E, Niakas D, Nakou I, Siamopoulou-Mavridou A, Tzoufi M. Comparative study of the health-related quality of life of children with epilepsy and their parents. Epilepsy & Behavior 2014; 41: 11–17
2- Bell GS, Gaitatzis A, Bell CL, Johnson AL, Sander JW. Drowning in people with epilepsy. Neurology 2008; 71(8):578–82.
3- Rodenburg R, Wagner JL, Austin JK, Kerr M, Dunn DW. Psychosocial issues for children with epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav. 2011; 22(1): 47-54
4- Shatla R, El said Sayyah H, Azzam H, Essayed R.M. Correlates of parental stress and psychopathology in pediatric epilepsy. Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology 2011, 14(4), 252-256.
5- Baum KT, Byars AW, deGrauw TJ, Dunn DW, Bates JE, Howe SR, et al. The effect of temperament and neuropsychological functioning on behavior problems in children with new-onset seizures. Epilepsy & Behavior 2010; 17:467-73
6- Sherman E, Slick DJ, Con nolly MB, et al. Validity of three measures of health ‐ related quality of lif e in children with intractable epilepsy. Epilepsia 2002; 43(10): 1230–8.
7- Farrace D, Tommasi M, Casadio C, Verrotti A. Parenting stress evaluation and behavior al syndromes in a group of pediatric patients with epilepsy. Epilepsy & Behavior 2013; 29: 222–227.
8- Cianchetti C, Messina P, Pupillo E, Crichiutti G, Giuseppina Baglietto M, et al. The perceived burden of epilepsy: Impact on the quality of life of children and adolescents and their families. Seizure 2014, In Press
9- Wirrell EC, Wood L, Hamiwka LD, Sherman EM. Parenting stress in mothers of children with intractable epilepsy. Epilepsy & Behavior. 2008;13: 169-173
10- Shore CP, Buelow JM, Au st in J K, John son C S. Continuing psychosocial care needs in children with new-onset epilepsy and their parents. Journal of Neuroscience Nursing 2009; 41(5): 244 –50.
11- Cushner-Weinstein S, Dassoulas K, Salpekar JA, Henderson SE, Pearl PL, Gaillard WD, et al. Parenting stress and childhood epilepsy: The impact of depression, learning, and seizure-related factors. Epilepsy & Behavior 2008;13: 109-114.
12- Austin, J. K. and Caplan, R. Behavioral and Psychiatric Co morbidities in Pediatric Epilepsy: Toward an Integrative Model. Epilepsia, 2007;48:1639-1651
13- Austin JK, Dunn DW, Johnson CS, Perkins SM. Behavioral issues involving children and adolescents with epilepsy and the impact of their families: recent research data. Epilepsy & Behavior 2004; 5(Suppl. 3):33–41.
14- Shore CP, Austin JK, Dunn DW. Maternal adaptation to a child's epilepsy. Epilepsy & Behavior 2004; 5(4):557–68.
15- Smith G, Wagner J, Andrews J, Austin J, Mueller J, Carter E, Griesemer K. Caregiving in pediatric epilepsy: Results of focus groups and implications for research and practice. Epilepsy & Behavior 34 (2014) 34–41
16- Rodenburg R, Meije A.M, Scherphof C, Carpay J.A, Augustijn P Aldenkamp A.P, Deković M. Parenting and restrictions in childhood epilepsy. Epilepsy & Behavior 2013; 27: 497–503
17- Rodenburg R, Stams GJ, Meijer AM, Aldenkamp AP, Deković M. Psychopathology in children with epilepsy: a meta-analysis. Journal of Pediatric Psychology 2005; 30(6):453.
18- Dunn DW, Austin JK, Perkins SM. Prevalence of psychopathology in childhood epilepsy: Categorical and dimensional measures. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology 2009; 51:364-72.
19- Lincoln YS, Guba EG. Naturalistic inquiry. Beverly Hills, California: Sage; 1985.
20- Graneheim H.U, Lundman B. Qualitative content analysis in nursing research: Concepts, procedures and measures to achieve trustworthiness. Nurse Education Today 2004; 24: 105-112
21- J Jones C, Reilly C. Parental anxiety in childhood epilepsy: A systematic review. Epilepsia 2016; 57(4):529-37.
22- Mullins L. L, Wolfe-Christensen C, Hoff Pai L. A, Carpentier Y. M, Gillaspy S, Cheek J, Page M. The Relationship of Parental Overprotection, Perceived Child Vulnerability, and Parenting Stress to Uncertainty in Youth with Chronic Illness. Journal of Pediatric Psychology 2007; 32 (8): 973–982.
23- Akay P.A, Kurul S, Ozek H, Cengizhan S, Emiroglu N, Ellidokuz H . Maternal reactions to a child with epilepsy: Depression, anxiety, parental attitudes and family functions. Epilepsy Research 2011; 95 (3): 213-220
24- Yang, Haojun, et al. Attitudes toward epilepsy among parents of children with epilepsy in Southern China. Frontiers in Neurology 2020; 11: 1926.
25- Kissani, Najib, et al. "Epilepsy and school in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region: The current situation, challenges, and solutions." Epilepsy & Behavior 112 (2020): 107325.
26- O'Toole, S., et al. "Family communication in the context of pediatric epilepsy: A systematic review. Epilepsy & Behavior 2015; 51: 225-239.
27- Dafoulis V,Kalyva E.Factors associated with behavioral problemsin children with idiopathic epilepsy. Epilepsy Research 2012; 100,: 104—112
28- Yang, Haojun, et al. "Evaluation of anxiety, depression, and sleep quality among parents of children with epilepsy in Southern China. Epilepsy & Behavior 2020; 112: 107340.
29- Bakula, Dana M., et al. A Longitudinal Assessment of Parenting Stress in Parents of Children with New-Onset Epilepsy. Journal of Pediatric Psychology 2021; 46(1): 91-99.
30- Nabors L, Liddle M, Graves ML, Kamphaus A, Elkins J. A family affair: Supporting children with chronic illnesses. Child Care Health Dev. 2019; 45(2):227-233
31- Alderfer M.A, Long K.A, Lown E.A, Marsland A.L, Ostrowski N.L, Hock J.M, et al. Psychosocial adjustment of siblings of children with cancer: A systematic review. Psycho-Oncology 2010; 19: 789-805
32- Wade, Shari L., et al. Telepsychotherapy with children and families: Lessons gleaned from two decades of translational research. Journal of Psychotherapy Integration 2020; 30(2): 332.
33- Saada F, Wang S. Z, Bautista D.R.E. In focus: The everyday lives of families of adult individuals with epilepsy. Epilepsy & Behavior 2015, 50, 10–13.
34- Hames A, Appleton R. Living with a brother or sister with epilepsy: sibling's experience. Seizure 2009; 18: 699-701.
35- Hills D.M. The psychological and social impact of epilepsy. Neurology Asia 2007; 12, 10 – 12.
36- Jakobsen, Anne Vagner, et al. The impact of severe pediatric epilepsy on experienced stress and psychopathology in parents. Epilepsy & Behavior 2020; 113: 107538.
37- VanStraten MD, Yu-Tze Ng MD. What is the worst part about having epilepsy? A Children’s and Parents’ Perspective. Pediatric Neurology 2012; 47: 431-435.
38- Benson, Ailbhe, et al. "The stigma experiences and perceptions of families living with epilepsy: Implications for epilepsy-related communication within and external to the family unit." Patient education and counseling 2016; 99(9): 1473-1481.
39- Soltanifar, Atefeh, et al. "391–Behavioral problems in children with epilepsy, and parenting stress and parenting styles of their mothers." European Psychiatry 28.S1 (2013): 1-1.
40- Knecht CH, Hellmers C, Metzing S. The Perspective of Siblings of Children With Chronic Illness: A Literature Review. Journal of Pediatric Nursing 2015, 30, 102–116.
41- Ghasempour A., Nourian M., Moharari F., Khalesi H., Yaghmai F., Akbarzadeh Bagheban A.. comparing social competence and behavioral problems of healthy children and children with epilepsy in the age of 6-12 years old. Journal of Health and Heygine 2012; 2(4):36-43.