Background: There are many researches on the relationship between the stress and depression with migraine, but yet experimental evidence is needed to validate such a view. So, the aim of this study was to examine the experimental effects of mood and stress induction on pain intensity among the migraine patients.

Materials and Methods: In this semi-experimental study, 60 patients suffering from migraine were selected from Baghiatallah hospital (Tehran) and randomly assigned to three groups: the positive and negative mood-induced and control groups. A computerized task was used to elicit stress and different types of films were presented to induce mood. The pain intensity was measured using the numerical rating scale in 3 stages (at baseline, after the computerized task, and after showing film).

Results: Results showed that the pain intensity of all participants was significantly increased after presenting the computerized task (P<0.0001). Pain intensity in the negative and positive mood-induced and control groups was increased from 17.75 to 24, 13.4 to 27.9 and 11.55 to 33.65, respectively. The results showed that the induction of depressed mood increased the pain intensity (38.7), while the induction of positive mood significantly reduced it (15.15) (P<0.04). No significant difference was seen in the control group.

Conclusion: The stressors can lead to increase pain intensity in migraine patients and thus being in the sad and happy conditions can increase and decrease the pain intensity in migraine patients.