Coping styles of headache sufferers

Psychological factors are important in the chronification and aggravation of headaches. We studied 90 patients suffering from migraine, chronic daily headache (CDH) evolved from migraine, and episodic or chronic tension-type headache (TTH). Emotional, cognitive, and behavioral pain coping were assessed using the Kiel Pain Inventory (KPI), Beck's Depression Inventory, the State-Trait-Anxiety Inventory, and Quality of Life Questionnaire. In addition, the clinical course of headache was analyzed using a validated headache diary. The results were as follows. Firstly, the KPI is reliable internally for the assessment of pain-coping strategy employment among headache patients. Secondly, migraine sufferers were characterized by pronounced psychological abnormalities during the headache phase, demonstrating a less adaptive coping behavior. This was in contrast to the TTH patients, who showed more general distress manifesting in elevated anxiety and lower quality of life. The only factor which appeared to be essential for differentiating between migraine and TTH was the intensity of headache. Thirdly, chronic TTH and CDH evolved from migraine demonstrated more pronounced psychological disabilities and more severe clinical courses of headaches than episodic TTH or nontransformed migraine. The predictor variable for transformation of migraine was impairment of well-being/quality of life, and for transformation of TTH, the frequency of headaches and depression. Finally, analgesic misuse seems to be less important for chronification and transformation of headaches than the degree of psychological disability. This study draws attention to the role of psychological factors in the chronification of TTH and transformation of migraine and provides some recommendations for the behavioral treatment of chronic headaches.     

Relationship between insomnia and headache in community-based middle-aged Hong Kong Chinese women

Limited studies have investigated the prevalence of insomnia symptoms among individuals with different headache diagnoses and the association between insomnia and headache in subjects with comorbid anxiety and depression. A total of 310 community-dwelling Hong Kong Chinese women aged 40–60 years completed a self-administered questionnaire on headache, sleep difficulties, mood disturbances, and functional impairment. About 31% of the sample complained of recurrent headache unrelated to influenza and the common cold in the past 12 months. The percentages of women diagnosed to have migraine, tension-type headache (TTH), and headache unspecified were 8.4, 15.5 and 7.1%, respectively. The most frequent insomnia complaint was “problem waking up too early” (29.4%), followed by “difficulty staying asleep” (28.0%) and “difficulty falling asleep” (24.4%). Women with headaches were significantly more likely to report insomnia symptoms than those without headaches. There were no significant differences among women with migraine, TTH, and headache unspecified in the prevalence of insomnia symptoms. Logistic regression analysis showed that women with insomnia disorder as defined by an insomnia severity index total score ≥8 had 2.2-fold increased risk of reporting recurrent headache, 3.2-fold increased risk of migraine, and 2.3-fold increased risk of TTH, after adjusting for anxiety and depression. Individual insomnia symptoms were not independent predictors. The association between insomnia and headache was stronger in subjects with more frequent headaches. Our findings suggest that insomnia and the associated distress, but not insomnia symptoms alone, is an independent risk factor for recurrent headache in middle-aged women with mixed anxiety, depression and sleep disturbances.     

Behavioral and nonpharmacologic treatments of headache

Cognitive-behavioral analysis and the multiaxial assessment of relevant behavioral domains (headache frequency and severity, analgesic and abortive use and misuse, behavioral and stress-related risk factors, comorbid psychiatric disorders, and degree of overall functional impairment) help set the stage for CBT of headache disorders. Controlled studies of CBTs for migraine, such as biofeedback and relaxation therapy, have a prophylactic efficacy of about 50%, roughly equivalent to propranolol. Cluster headache responds poorly to behavioral treatment. The persistent overuse of symptomatic medication impedes the effectiveness of behavioral and prophylactic medical therapies. Behavioral treatment can help sustain improvement after analgesic withdrawal, however, and prevent relapse in cases of analgesic overuse. Cognitive factors (e.g., an enhanced sense of self-efficacy and internal locus of control) appear to be important mediators of successful behavioral treatment. Patients with CDH are more likely to overuse symptomatic medication (and in some cases abuse analgesics), have more psychiatric comorbidity; have more functional impairment and disability, and are at least as likely to experience stress-related intensification of headache as patients whose episodic headaches occur less than 15 days per month. Despite the significance of these behavioral factors, patients with CDH (particularly those with migrainous features) are less likely to benefit from behavioral treatment without concomitant prophylactic medication than is the case for episodic TTH and migraine sufferers. Continuous daily pain may be more refractory to behavioral treatment as a solo modality than CDH marked by at least some pain-free days or periods of time. The combination of behavioral therapies with prophylactic medication creates a synergistic effect, increasing efficacy beyond either type of treatment alone. Compliance-enhancement techniques, including behavioral contracts for patients with severe personality disorders, can increase adherence to behavioral recommendations. CBT has earned an important place in the comprehensive treatment of patients with episodic migraine/TTH and severe, treatment-resistant chronic daily headache.     

Chronic daily headache: how to manage it?

The role of daily analgesic use (also called abuse) in chronic daily headache (CDH) for the maintenance of chronic headache is discussed. The comprehension of the underlying mechanisms of actions is lacking mainly because of the absence of animal models. The abuse should be considered as a compulsive behavior rather than linked to the type of analgesic used and related both to “how” the drug is taken and to “what” drug is used. Moreover, there is no evidence of addictive personality in these patients, and also predictive factors for the long-term outcomes are inconsistent. In the literature specific indications are lacking for the treatment to be performed in these patients. In conclusion, the main problem for these patients is to manage their headaches, and the aim of the therapy should be to enable patients to feel in control of their migraine rather than feel that migraine or analgesic drugs control them. Correspondence to L.A. Pini     

Overview of tension-type headache

Tension-type headache (TTH) is the most prevalent form of headache. Although it is not the most severe form of headache, it has a significant impact on society. In spite of this, little is known about its pathophysiology. Current International Headache Society classification has been called into question, and new classification approaches have been suggested. With reference to chronic TTH, the issue of analgesic rebound may confound the diagnosis. Transformed migraine and new persistent daily headaches are clarified and differentiated from chronic TTHs (CTTHs). The best documented abnormality found in TTHs is the presence of pericranial tenderness. It is generally believed that pain is initiated by a peripheral mechanism, most likely increased input from the myofascial nociceptors. In CTTH, there may be an impaired supraspinal modulation of the incoming stimuli. Whether there is an overlap in the continuum between TTH and migraine is controversial. Abortive and prophylactic treatments are discussed and wellness and adjunct therapy are also emphasized. Lastly, special attention is paid to the doctor-patient relationship in patients with difficult headaches.     

Diagnostic issues in tension-type headache

The diagnosis of tension-type headache (TTH) is divided into two categories: episodic TTH and chronic TTH. It is important to differentiate TTH from other headaches, including primary and secondary headaches. Significant overlap in the diagnostic criteria makes it difficult to differentiate TTH from other headache disorders and, in particular, migraine. A controversy exists about whether TTH and migraine represent a continuum of the same pathophysiological process.     

Migraine,tension-type headache,and transformed migraine

Migraine and tension-type headache (TTH) are highly prevalent primary headaches that remain underdiagnosed and undertreated in clinical practice. The similarities and differences between migraine and TTH may impose diagnostic challenges as well as management difficulties. In addition, the possibility of migraine chronification or transformation in daily or near-daily headache raises the potential level of interaction between pathophysiologic mechanisms of TTH and migraine. The continuum concept is a possible key to the understanding of this association. Future studies are necessary to clarify epidemiology, pathophysiology, and management of these two most prevalent headaches.     

An epidemiological study of headache in Florianopolis, Brazil

The aim of this study was to estimate the 1-year prevalence of headache, migraine, tension-type headache (TTH) and chronic daily headache (CDH), and the degree of association of migraine with some sociodemographic characteristics of the population of Florianopolis, Brazil. This is a cross-sectional, door-to-door, population-based study. In 300 randomly selected households, 625 subjects, aged 15-64 years, responded to a structured questionnaire. The 1-year prevalence of headache was 80.8%, of migraine 22.1%, of TTH 22.9%, and of CDH 6.4%. Migraine and CDH were significantly more prevalent in females than in males. Migraine was significantly associated with the following variables: low household income, low electricity consumption, and divorced or widowed marital status. We have shown high prevalences of migraine and CDH in Florianopolis, close to the higher rates of previous studies. There was a preponderance of migraine in females, divorced or widowed, with a low socioeconomic level.     

Chronic daily headache and the revised international headache society classification

Chronic daily headache (CDH) is surprisingly common. It is best defined as a primary headache disorder with head pain on most days. There are a number of possible secondary causes of persistent headache, including traumatic, vascular, neoplastic, and infectious processes, all of which must be ruled out when the patient with frequent headache is evaluated. However, most patients with CDH seem to have a primary neurophysiologic disorder. This category of primary CDH does not seem to be a homogeneous disorder, but rather one with important subtypes. Several authors have proposed subdivisions of primary CDH such as chronic migraine, evolved migraine, transformed migraine, chronic tension-type headache, new daily persistent headache, and hemicrania continua. The International Headache Society (IHS) Classification published in 1988 did not address CDH other than to define a category “chronic tension-type headache.rd The revised IHS Classification (ICHD II) attempts to characterize CDH more thoroughly with the addition of chronic migraine and new daily persistent headache diagnoses, but this complex issue continues to defy easy categorization. This article provides a review of thinking about the nature of primary CDH and how ICHD II attempts to organize this category for much needed research purposes.     

Chronic daily headache in a paediatric headache centre

The prevalence and the clinical features of chronic daily headache (CDH) were studied in 968 children and adolescents observed during a period of one year in the Headache Centre of the Anna Meyer Paediatric Hospital of Florence. Nine hundred and fortyfour patients (97.52%) had primary headache according to ICHD-II, 24 subjects had secondary headache and 56 patients had CDH (5.93% of primary headaches). The mean age of subjects with CDH was higher than general (13.5 vs. 11.5 years), with a female preponderance (69.6% vs. 30.4%). According to the ICHD-II, headaches were classified as chronic migraine in 10 patients (1.5.2 ICHD-II), chronic tension-type headache in 36 (2.3 ICHD-II), new daily persistent headache in 8 (4.8 ICHD-II) and 2 patients reported mixed pattern (chronic migraine+chronic tension type headache). Medication overuse was not implicated in our patients.     

Demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with episodic migraine versus chronic daily headache

We compared data from 243 patients with episodic migraine (EM) and 132 patients with chronic daily headache (CDH). We divided the matter group into those with tension-type headache only (CDH Type 1) and those with headaches having migrainous features (CDH Types 2+3) and compared each with the EM group and all three groups with one another. CDH Type l patients differed from those in the other groups by virtue of gender (more often male) and mean age at headache onset (older). The CDH Types 2+3 and EM groups differed only in that the former were more likely to have undergone a brain-imaging study. These data suggest that CDH Type 1 may represent a distinct headache syndrome, while CDH Types 2+3 closely resemble episodic migraine.     

Somatic symptoms in headache patients: the influence of headache diagnosis, frequency, and comorbidity

BACKGROUND: Mood disorders of anxiety and depression are well known to be comorbid with primary headache disorders. Less is known of the comorbidity of other somatic symptoms with headache. METHODS: Headache Clinic patients were screened with the Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders (PRIME-MD), a multidimensional psychiatric screening tool. The prevalence of somatic symptoms was compared by headache diagnosis, frequency of severe headache, and psychiatric diagnosis. Follow-up data were obtained 6 months after consultation. RESULTS: Clinical diagnoses and PRIME-MD data were available for 289 patients. Associated somatic symptoms were more frequent in patients with chronic migraine (mean 5.5, P<.001) and chronic daily headache (CDH) (6.3, P=.008) compared to episodic migraine (4.0); in patients with severe headache >2 days per week compared to 2 days per week had significantly higher somatic counts (P=.01). Six-month follow-up data were available for 140 patients. Associated symptoms decreased both for patients with and without decrease in severe headache frequency (mean reduction of 1.0, P=.01 and 0.8, P=.003, respectively). CONCLUSION: Associated somatic symptoms are more common in patients with chronic migraine and CDH, with more frequent severe headaches, and with associated anxiety or depression. Patients with episodic migraine have similar somatic prevalence as a previously studied primary care population. The spectrum of headache disorders may be characterized as showing increasing somatic prevalence as headaches, particularly severe headaches, become more frequent.     

Validation of a Georgian language headache questionnaire in a population-based sample

In a pilot phase of a survey of the prevalence of primary headache disorders in the Republic of Georgia, we validated a Georgian language questionnaire for migraine (MIG), tension-type headache (TTH), MIG+TTH and trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias (TAC). A population-based sample of 186 people with headache completed the questionnaire and were blindly examined by one of two headache experts. The questionnaire diagnoses were: MIG 49, TTH 76, MIG+TTH 45 and TAC 16. The physicians’ diagnoses were: MIG 59, TTH 77, MIG+TTH 34, TAC 2 and “symptomatic headache” in 14 subjects. Sensitivity and specificity for MIG were 0.75 and 0.96, for TTH 0.79 and 0.86, and for MIG+TTH 0.61 and 0.84 respectively. Of 16 TAC diagnoses, the physicians confirmed cluster headache in two patients only. The questionnaire can be utilised to investigate the prevalence of MIG and of TTH. It offers preliminary screening only for TAC, which should be confirmed during a face to face examination. This is a “Springer Open Choice” article. Unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium is permitted, provided the original author and source are credited. An erratum to this article can be found at     

Chronic daily headache in children and adolescents

Chronic daily headache (CDH), an almost continual headache in the absence of organic pathology, is an exceptionally challenging type of headache to treat in children and adolescents. CDH has different expressions in children and adults; the different expressions may reflect several different etiologies or a developmental continuum. Although a positive family history predisposes children to develop headache, many environmental, biological, and psychological processes may share a role in the etiology. To date, no studies have examined the pathophysiology of CDH in children so that our understanding is presumed, rather than documented, and based primarily on extrapolation from adult studies. For some cases with migraine features, presumed mechanisms include a neurogenic inflammatory cascade, vascular reactivity, and serotonin, whereas for other cases, mechanisms may include pericranial muscle tenderness or musculoskeletal abnormalities, as noted recently for adults. A skilled and careful history is the first step to ensuring an accurate diagnosis for children with CDH. Pain assessment is an integral component of diagnosis and treatment. We need an objective measure of headache activity and an understanding of the factors that cause or exacerbate headaches for an individual child. Although many drug and nondrug therapies are available for treating children’s headache, we lack data about which therapies are best for children with CDH or its subtypes. The current principles guiding our management of CDH in children and adolescents are extrapolated from the existing literature on childhood headache, CDH in adults, and our clinical experience. A child-centered focus is particularly important in the treatment of CDH because it is not caused by an underlying disease or disorder.     

Interactions between migraine and tension-type headache and alcohol drinking, alcohol flushing, and hangover in Japanese

The aim of the study was to investigate associations between headache types and alcohol drinking, alcohol flushing, and hangover. Alcohol consumption is inhibited by the presence of inactive aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 (ALDH2) whose carriers are susceptible to alcohol flushing and hangovers. We conducted a cross-sectional study of the 2,577 subjects (men/women: 1,018/1,559) who reported having ever experienced headaches unrelated to common colds and alcohol hangovers among 5,408 (2,778/2,630) Tokyo health checkup examinees. We used a questionnaire inquiring about current and past facial flushing after drinking a glass of beer which identifies the presence of inactive ALDH2 with a sensitivity and specificity of approximately 90%. Based on ICHD-II criteria migraine was diagnosed in 419 (75/344) subjects, and tension-type headache (TTH) in 613 (249/364). We classified the headaches of the remaining 1,545 (694/851) of headaches sufferers into the category “other headaches (OH)”. The migraineurs drank alcohol less frequently than the subjects with TTH among current/past alcohol flushers and than the subjects with OH regardless of flushing category. No such difference in drinking frequency was observed between TTH and OH. Current/past flushers drank alcohol less frequently than never flushers, and the likelihood that male migraineurs would avoid alcohol drinking than men with TTH or OH was stronger among current/past flushers than among never flushers. Flushers and women were more susceptible to hangover than never flushers and men, respectively, regardless of headache type. Among never flushers, women with migraine were more susceptible to hangover than women with OH. The difference in alcohol sensitivity may partly explain less alcohol consumption by migraineurs.     

Classification and clinical features of headache patients: an outpatient clinic study from China

This study aimed to analyze and classify the clinical features of headache in neurological outpatients. A cross-sectional study was conducted consecutively from March to May 2010 for headache among general neurological outpatients attending the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University. Personal interviews were carried out and a questionnaire was used to collect medical records. Diagnosis of headache was according to the International classification of headache disorders, 2nd edition (ICHD-II). Headache patients accounted for 19.5% of the general neurology clinic outpatients. A total of 843 (50.1%) patients were defined as having primary headache, 454 (27%) secondary headache, and 386 (23%) headache not otherwise specified (headache NOS). For primary headache, 401 (23.8%) had migraine, 399 (23.7%) tension-type headache (TTH), 8 (0.5%) cluster headache and 35 (2.1%) other headache types. Overall, migraine patients suffered (1) more severe headache intensity, (2) longer than 6 years of headache history and (3) more common analgesic medications use than TTH ones (p < 0.001).TTH patients had more frequent episodes of headaches than migraine patients, and typically headache frequency exceeded 15 days/month (p < 0.001); 22.8% of primary headache patients were defined as chronic daily headache. Almost 20% of outpatient visits to the general neurology department were of headache patients, predominantly primary headache of migraine and TTH. In outpatient headaches, more attention should be given to headache intensity and duration of headache history for migraine patients, while more attention to headache frequency should be given for the TTH ones.     

New daily persistent headache in the paediatric population

We conducted a clinic-based study focusing on the clinical features of new-onset chronic daily headaches (CDH) in children and adolescents. The clinical records and headache diaries of 306 children and adolescents were reviewed, to identify 187 with CDH. Relevant information was transferred to a standardized form that included operational criteria for the diagnoses of the headaches. Since we were interested in describing the clinical features of these headaches, we followed the criteria A and B of the 2nd edn of the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-2) and refer to them as new daily persistent headaches (NDPH) regardless of the presence of migraine features (therefore, this is a modified version of the ICHD-2 criteria). From the 56 adolescents with NDPH, most (91.8%) did not overuse medications. Nearly half (48.1%) reported they could recall the month when their headaches started. NDPH was more common than chronic tension-type headache in both adolescents overusing and not overusing medication. Individuals with NDPH had headaches fulfilling criteria for migraine on an average of 18.5 days per month. On most days, they had migraine-associated symptoms (one of nausea, photophobia or phonophobia)). NDPH is common in children and adolescents with CDH. Most subjects do not overuse medication. Migraine features are common.     

Chronic Daily Headache in Children and Adolescents

Chronic daily headache (CDH) may be primary or secondary. Secondary causes can be suspected through “red flags” in the history and examination. With a prevalence of at least 1% and several associations, primary CDH is a common, often complex, chronic pain syndrome in children and adolescents. The intricate associations between stressors, psychiatric disorders (especially anxiety and depression), and CDH can be explained by “the limbically augmented pain syndrome” proposed by Rome and Rome. Disorders of sleep and other pain syndromes also may co-occur. For these reasons, a multiaxial classification is ideal. Many with primary CDH have features of both chronic migraine and chronic tension-type headache, contributing to confusion in subtyping. Primary CDH is often transformed from a primary episodic headache type, stressors being most responsible. Genetic factors also may facilitate chronification. Management should be biopsychosocial, family-centered, and often multidisciplinary, drugs being only one component. Treatment is still based on consensus, not evidence. Girls, migraineurs, and those with psychiatric comorbidity, medication overuse, and CDH onset before the age of 13 years and lasting for 2 years or longer, are at high risk for persistence; hence, such patients should be followed up into adult life. A classification for CDH should be included in the third edition of the International Classification of Headache Disorders.     

Tension-Type Headache Mimics

Tension-type headache (TTH) is a relatively featureless headache. Many primary and secondary headache disorders can mimic TTH, particularly in its chronic form, chronic tension-type headache. This review will address both primary and secondary disorders that can present with headaches phenotypically similar to TTH, and will focus on clinical pearls that help distinguish these “mimics” from TTH.     

Chronic daily headache in children and adolescents: a clinic based study from India

Chronic Daily Headache (CDH) is uncommon in Indian children compared to their adult counterpart. This is a retrospective study looking at the headache phenomenology of CDH in Indian children and adolescents. The validity of the case definitions of subtypes of chronic primary headaches mentioned in the IHS 2004 classification have been evaluated. 22 children (age range 8-15 years; M : F-16 : 6) diagnosed as having primary CDH using a modified definition seen between 2002 and 2003 have been studied. CDH has been defined as daily or near daily headaches > 15d/month for > 6 weeks. The rationale for this modified definition has been discussed. Majority of children (15/22) had a more or loss specified time of onset of regular headache spells resembling New Daily Persistent Headache (NDPH) but did not fulfil totally the diagnostic criteria of NDPH as laid down by IHS 2004. In all cases headache phenomenology included a significant vascular component. Headache phenomenology closely resembled Chronic Tension Type Headache (CTTH) in 4 patients and Chronic Migraine in 3 patients. However, in no patient in these groups, a history of evolution from the episodic forms of the diseases could be elicited. Heightened level of anxiety mostly related to academic stress and achievement was noted in the majority (19/22). Only a minority of patients (3/22) had anxiety and depression related to interpersonal relationships in the family. Medication overuse was not implicated in any patient. CDH in children in India is very much different from CDH in adults with the vast majority of patients exhibiting overlapping features of migraine and tension-type headache. There is need for a modified diagnostic criteria and terminology for chronic primary headaches in children.