Psychogenic Headache

SYNOPSIS
An attempt has been made to identify what is commonly referred to as "psychogenic headache" and to differentiate between the most frequently encountered psychiatric disorders where headache is the main symptom. These disorders include anxiety reactions, conversion reactions and depressive reactions. While it is recognized that psychogenic factors often play a major part in migraine headaches and vascular headaches⁸ and possibly cluster headaches, this topic has not been discussed here as the literature on these types of headache is already extensive.This article attempts to review the causes, types, location and duration of psychogenic headaches and the types of premorbid personality encountered in the sufferer. It suggests how the diagnosis of psychogenic headache may be made and notes that effective treatment will depend upon establishing the correct diagnosis and include not only treatment of the symptom, i.e., the headache, but treatment of the underlying psychiatric disorder also.     

Managing chronic headaches in the clinic

Chronic daily headache (CDH), which is often linked to a history of migraine, tension-type headache and the abuse of headache medications, and cluster headache are the best known of the chronic headaches. These headaches may not be well recognised or well treated in primary care. This article outlines the development of management algorithms for these headache subtypes, designed for use by the primary care physician with an interest in headache. Principles of care for chronic headaches include implementation of screening procedures, differential diagnosis, tailoring of management to the individual's needs, proactive follow-up and a team approach to care. These principles can be customised to the headache subtype by the selection of appropriate therapies. The optimal treatments for CDH include physical therapy to the neck if there is any stiffness there, withdrawal of abused medications and treatment of any subsequent withdrawal symptoms and headache prophylaxis, together with the provision of acute medications as rescue therapy. Optimal treatments for cluster headache include short- and long-term prophylaxis to prevent the headaches developing and acute medications for use as rescue. If treatment is ineffective, alternative medications can be provided at follow-up, with the possibility of referral for refractory patients.     

A 22-Year-Old Woman With Chronic Daily Headaches

Tension-type headache is a common clinical complaint occurring in 78% of the general population. Chronic tension-type headache in adult patients is defined as attacks of headaches occurring on at least 15 days per month over a period of at least 3 consecutive months. The association between headaches and psychological factors represents a significant clinical problem that leads to a broader discussion about whether primary headaches could lead to anxiety or whether anxiety symptoms may precipitate primary headaches. This case highlights the positive outcomes associated with the appropriate identification and treatment of a comorbid psychiatric condition.     

Biofeedback Therapy for Pediatric Headache: Factors Associated With Response

Objectives.— The goal of this study was to measure the effect of biofeedback therapy on pediatric headache and to identify factors associated with response to biofeedback therapy. Background.— In the United States, 17% of children have frequent or severe headaches. Biofeedback therapy (BFT) appears to be an effective treatment for headaches in adults and is often recommended for children with headaches, but there are few data in the pediatric population. It is also not clear which patients are most likely to benefit from biofeedback therapy. Methods.— We examined the records of patients, aged 8 to 18 years old, who were referred to a pediatric BFT clinic for management of headache between 2004 and 2008. We extracted data regarding patient and headache characteristics, medication use, family history, and measures of depression, anxiety, and somatization. Chronic headache was defined as ≥4 headache days/week. Positive response to biofeedback was defined as a 50% reduction in number of headache days/week or hours/week, or ≥3‐point decrease in severity (0‐10 scale) between first and last visits. We analyzed the responder rate for those with episodic and chronic headaches and performed multivariable analysis to determine what factors were associated with headache response to biofeedback therapy. Results.— We analyzed records from 132 children who attended ≥2 biofeedback sessions. Median headache frequency dropped from 3.5 to 2 headache days/week between the first and last visits. The response rate was 58% overall; 48% for chronic headaches and 73% episodic headaches. In multivariate analysis, ability to raise hand temperature by >3°F at the last visit and use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) were associated with a positive response, and preventive medication use was associated with nonresponse. Anxiety, depression, and somatization were not significantly associated with response to biofeedback therapy. Conclusions.— Biofeedback therapy appears to be an effective treatment for children and adolescents with both episodic and chronic headaches. Further study is warranted to compare biofeedback with other treatments for chronic pediatric headache. Use of SSRIs appears to be associated with a positive response to biofeedback therapy, but the reasons for this relationship are unclear and merit further study.     

Transformation of Episodic Migraine Into Daily Headache: Analysis of Factors

SYNOPSIS
Seventy-six percent of patients with daily headaches were found to have a history of episodic migraine in the past, more than half of them hormone dependent headache such as menstrual migraine. Various factors possibly influencing the transformation of episodic migraine into daily headaches were analyzed in a series of 61 patients who presented with daily headaches. Abnormal personality profile, especially neuroticism including depression, excessive stress, excessive use of medications such as caffeine containing analgesics, narcotic analgesics and ergotamine, and development of hypertension were found to be significant in the transformation of episodic migraine into daily headache.
The problem of daily headache is discussed. It is suggested that the majority of daily headaches are a continuum of episodic migraine, influenced and perpetuated by various factors such as neuroticism, excessive medication, stress, and development of hypertension. It is pointed out that diagnosis of tension headache under those circumstances is not justified.     

Menstrual Migraine and Intermittent Ergonovine Therapy

The treatment of patients suffering with menstrual migraine is sometimes a difficult and frustrating problem for the physician. As many menstrual migraine headaches are refractory to abortive therapy, prophylactic therapy is often needed. Ergonovine maleate, an ergot derivative with vasoconstrictive properties, has been used with some success in migraine headache patients. Forty patients who were treated with intermittent prophylactic ergonovine were studied over six months. The patients ranged in age from 22 to 40 years, and all suffered with menstrual migraine headaches which were refractory to abortive therapy. Each patient took ergonovine maleate 0.2 mg three to four times daily during menses and recorded headache occurrence and severity. After three months, 24 patients (60%) reported significantly less severe attacks, six patients (15%) reported less frequent headaches and 14 patients (35%) reported no improvement. After six months there was a decrease in effectiveness with 20 patients (50%) reporting significantly less severe headaches and two patients (5%) reporting less frequent headaches. This limited study suggests that ergonovine maleate may be of value in the treatment of difficult menstrual migraine patients.     

Posttraumatic headache

Chronic posttraumatic headache is a common condition, often part of the postconcussion/posttraumatic syndrome. The pathophysiology is not well understood but includes biological, psychological, and social factors. Tension-type headache is the most common manifestation, but exacerbations of migraine-like headaches often occur. After a structural lesion has been ruled out, the treatment of posttraumatic headache is similar to that of the primary headaches.     

Determination of manipulative physiotherapy treatment outcome in headache patients

SUMMARY. Although physiotherapists are frequently involved in the treatment of headache when cervical spine dysfunction is thought to be a cause or contributing factor there does not appear to be a consistent definition of treatment success. This study analysed treatment outcome in a population of 112 headache patients presenting for manipulative physiotherapy. Two months after the initial consultation, statistically significant improvements were observed in mean scores for each of headache frequency (P < 0.001), duration (P < 0.05) and intensity (P < 0.001). When a combination of patient estimate of treatment effect and a headache index incorporating scores for frequency, intensity and duration was used to classify treatment outcome, 51 of the 91 subjects analysed at follow-up were deemed to have had a positive response to treatment. This method of classification of treatment outcome appeared to be sensitive to cases where the patient's headaches were improved by factors other than the physiotherapy treatment. However the classification used was less sensitive when the patient's headaches were aggravated by other factors or where there was not consistent improvement or deterioration in the measures of headache frequency, intensity and duration.     

Cluster headaches and sleep disorders

Cluster headaches are characterized by unilateral paroxysmal attacks of severe pain with associated symptoms. The headaches occur during particular sleep stages and are associated with other chronobiologic factors. Several sleep disorders have been associated with the occurrence of cluster headache; multiple hormonal influences affect the relationship between sleep and headache. Melatonin and other treatments that affect circadian rhythm have been suggested for the treatment of cluster headache. Obstructive sleep apnea can occur in patients with cluster headache; attempts to treat one disorder may influence the other. Sleep disorders such as insomnia and narcolepsy also may be associated with and influence cluster headaches. This article examines the relationship between the various sleep disorders and cluster headache, and reviews current research. Normal and abnormal sleep and details of treatments for specific sleep disorders that may decrease the frequency and severity of cluster headaches also are discussed. The relationship between obstructive sleep apnea, which is the most common sleep disorder, and cluster headache is discussed in detail.     

Headaches add to the burden of epilepsy

The objective was to investigate and classify headaches in 109 consecutive adult patients with epilepsy. A semi-structured interview was performed in those who confirmed such symptoms (65%). Interictal headaches were present in 52%; 20% had interictal migraine. Postictal headache was reported in 44%. Migraine characteristics were present in 42% of these, and most of them (74%) also suffered from interictal migraine. Six percent had preictal headache. In partial epilepsy, there was an association between headache lateralisation and interictal EEG abnormalities (p=0.02). We conclude that headache, including migraine, is very common in patients with epilepsy. Unilateral headache may represent a lateralising sign in focal epilepsy. Seizures often trigger postictal headaches with migraine features, which often are associated with interictal migraine. Migrainous headaches sometimes proceed into epileptic seizures. The comorbidity of migraine and epilepsy should receive ample clinical attention, as it may influence antiepileptic drug choice, and the headache may need specific treatment.     

Migraine Education Improves Quality of Life in a Primary Care Setting

(Headache 2010;50:600‐612) Objective.— The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Mercy Migraine Management Program (MMMP), an educational program for physicians and patients. The primary outcome was change in headache days from baseline at 3, 6, and 12 months. Secondary outcomes were changes in migraine‐related disability and quality of life, worry about headaches, self‐efficacy for managing migraines, emergency room (ER) visits for headache, and satisfaction with headache care. Background.— Despite progress in the understanding of the pathophysiology of migraine and development of effective therapeutic agents, many practitioners and patients continue to lack the knowledge and skills to effectively manage migraine. Educational efforts have been helpful in improving the quality of care and quality of life for migraine sufferers. However, little work has been performed to evaluate these changes over a longer period of time. Also, there is a paucity of published research evaluating the influence of education about migraine management on cognitive and emotional factors (for example, self‐efficacy for managing headaches, worry about headaches). Methods.— In this open‐label, prospective study, 284 individuals with migraine (92% female, mean age = 41.6) participated in the MMMP, an educational and skills‐based program. Of the 284 who participated in the program, 228 (80%) provided data about their headache frequency, headache‐related disability (as measured by the Headache Impact Test‐6 (HIT‐6), migraine‐specific quality of life (MSQ), worry about headaches, self‐efficacy for managing headaches, ER visits for headaches, and satisfaction with care at 4 time points over 12 months (baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months). Results.— Overall, 46% (106) of subjects reported a 50% or greater reduction in headache frequency. Over 12 months, patients reported fewer headaches and improvement on the HIT‐6 and MSQ (all P < .001). The improvement in headache impact and quality of life was greater among those who had more worry about their headaches at baseline. There were also significant improvements in “worry about headaches,”“self‐efficacy for managing headaches,” and “satisfaction with headache care.” Conclusion.— The findings demonstrate that patients participating in the MMMP reported improvements in their headache frequency as well as the cognitive and emotional aspects of headache management. This program was especially helpful among those with high amounts of worry about their headaches at the beginning of the program. The findings from this study are impetus for further research that will more clearly evaluate the effects of education and skill development on headache characteristics and the emotional and cognitive factors that influence headache.     

Identification and Treatment of Sleep Apnea in Patients With Chronic Headache

This study investigates the relationship between nocturnal or morning headache and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (sleep apnea). It is not known if headache of any type is more common in patients with sleep apnea than in other patients, but morning headache is a symptom of sleep apnea. A method is needed for identifying patients with chronic headache who might benefit from evaluation and treatment of sleep apnea. We performed a retrospective assessment of frequency of morning headache in patients grouped according to final diagnosis: sleep apnea (n=72), periodic leg movements of sleep (n=28), and psychophysiologic insomnia (n=42). Prospective overnight sleep studies were obtained in a different group of 19 patients who presented for evaluation of headache. We selected certain patient characteristics as possibly indicative of sleep apnea-related headache. The retrospective study showed that 24% of patients with sleep apnea had frequent morning headache, which was not different from the other groups. In the separate group of 19 patients with chronic headache and suspected sleep disorder, 17 had sleep apnea. Nasal continuous positive airway pressure was prescribed to 14 patients. Marked improvement in headache occurred and persisted in 4 patients and moderate improvement in 3. Responders to therapy were more likely to have vascular headaches than mixed or tension headaches, more severe sleep apnea, and a nocturnal or morning timing to their headaches. However, there was large overlap in severity of sleep apnea and likelihood of response. We conclude that morning headache is not more common in sleep apnea than in other sleep disorders. However, over 30% of patients with chronic headache and other symptoms of sleep apnea have significant improvement in headache after treatment of sleep apnea.     

Coexistence of Migraine and Cluster Headache: Report of 10 Cases and Possible Pathogenetic Implications

We report on 10 patients suffering from two types of primary headache, migraine and cluster, diagnosed according to IHS criteria, and selected from headache patients attending two Italian headache centers. We briefly review the literature on coexisting migraine and cluster headache, considering the time relationships between these two headaches. The present series seems not to confirm the hypothesis that migraine transforms into cluster headache since both headaches persist together in the patients. The series is of clinical interest particularly with regard to diagnosis and to treatment strategies. Furthermore, while migraine and cluster headache comorbidity must be confirmed by population-based epidemiological studies, the possibility arises that the two conditions may be linked pathophysiologically: common genetic factors or functional alterations in the same central neurological circuits may play a role in the pathogenesis of both disorders.     

Perceived self-efficacy and headache-related disability

BACKGROUND: Headache-specific self-efficacy refers to patients' confidence that they can take actions that prevent headache episodes or manage headache-related pain and disability. According to social cognitive theory, perceptions of self-efficacy influence an individual's adaptation to persistent headaches by influencing cognitive, affective, and physiological responses to headache episodes as well as the initiation and persistence of efforts to prevent headache episodes. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the present study was to construct and validate a brief measure of headache specific self-efficacy and to examine the relationship between self-efficacy and headache-related disability. METHODS: A sample of 329 patients seeking treatment for benign headache disorders completed the Headache Management Self-Efficacy Scale and measures of headache-specific locus of control, coping, psychological distress, and headache-related disability. A subset of 262 patients also completed 4 weeks of daily headache recordings. RESULTS: As predicted, patients who were confident they could prevent and manage their headaches also believed that the factors influencing their headaches were potentially within their control. In addition, self-efficacy scores were positively associated with the use of positive psychological coping strategies to both prevent and manage headache episodes and negatively associated with anxiety. Multiple regression analyses revealed that headache severity, locus-of-control beliefs, and self-efficacy beliefs each explained independent variance in headache-related disability.     

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.     

Hypnic headache: another indomethacin-responsive headache syndrome?

Hypnic headache syndrome is a benign, recurrent, late-onset headache disorder that occurs exclusively during sleep. Lithium has been reported to be an effective treatment, but the side effects of this medication are sometimes prohibitive, particularly in the elderly. Other drugs have been reported to be effective in this disorder, including caffeine, flunarizine, and verapamil. Recently, indomethacin has been reported to effectively suppress hypnic headaches. We report the response of seven patients with hypnic headache who were treated with indomethacin. Hypnic headache syndrome appears to represent yet another headache disorder in which there is sometimes an impressive response to indomethacin.     

MIDAS and HIT-6 French translation: reliability and correlation between tests

The aim was to evaluate the test-retest reliability of the French translation of the Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS) and Headache Impact Test (HIT)-6 questionnaires as applied to episodic and chronic headaches and to assess the correlation between these two questionnaires. The MIDAS and HIT-6 questionnaires, which assess the degree of migraine-related functional disability, are widely used in headache treatment clinics. The French translation has not been checked for test-retest reliability. MIDAS involves recall, over the previous 3 months, of the number of days with functional disability with regard to work and to home and social life. HIT-6 involves a more subjective and general assessment of headache-related disability over the previous 4 weeks. We expect that there may be greater impact recall bias for chronic headaches than for episodic headaches and considered it important to be able to determine if the reliability of these questionnaires is equally good for these two patient populations. Given that both questionnaires have the same objective, that of assessing headache impact, it was thought useful to determine if their results might show a correlation and if they could thus be used interchangeably. The study was approved by an external ethics committee. The subjects were patients who regularly visit the Clinique de la Migraine de Montréal, which specializes in the treatment of headaches. The MIDAS and HIT-6 questionnaires were completed by the patients during their regular visit. Twelve days later, the same questionnaires were mailed with a prepaid return envelope. Sixty-five patients were required in both the episodic and chronic headache groups, assuming an 80% questionnaire return rate. One hundred and eighty-five patients were enrolled, and 143 completed the study, 75 with episodic headaches and 68 with chronic headaches. The questionnaire return rate was 78.9%. On average, questionnaires were completed a second time 21 days after the first, with a median of 19 days. The Shrout-Fleiss intraclass correlation coefficients for MIDAS and HIT-6 were, respectively, 0.76 and 0.77 for episodic headaches and 0.83 and 0.80 for chronic headaches. The Pearson correlation coefficient between the MIDAS and HIT-6 questionnaires was 0.48 for episodic headaches and 0.58 for chronic headaches at the first compilation and 0.42 and 0.59 at the second compilation. The test-retest intraclass correlation of the French versions for both MIDAS and HIT-6 questionnaires indicates moderate reliability for episodic headache and substantial reliability for chronic headache. The correlation between the MIDAS and HIT-6 questionnaires is weak for episodic headaches, but approaches a level of 'good' for chronic headaches.     

Treatment of chronic daily posttraumatic headache with divalproex sodium

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of divalproex sodium in the treatment of chronic daily posttraumatic headaches. BACKGROUND: Divalproex sodium has been found to be useful for the treatment of migraine and chronic daily headache. No studies have been done to evaluate effectiveness in posttraumatic headache. METHODS: A retrospective review was done of 100 patients treated with divalproex for chronic daily posttraumatic headache of 2 months or longer. RESULTS: Sixty percent of patients with chronic posttraumatic headache had mild to moderate improvement in their headaches after at least 1 month of divalproex sodium. Forty percent either showed no response (26%) or discontinued treatment because of side effects (14%). Fifty-eight percent of patients showing improvement had a change in headache pattern from daily to episodic. CONCLUSIONS: Divalproex sodium appears to be safe and effective for treatment of patients with persistent, chronic daily posttraumatic headaches.     

Nasal surgery for contact point headaches

Headache due to the pressure on nasal mucosa of anatomical variations, nasal polyps, or mucosal swelling in the absence of inflammation of the paranasal sinuses is a clinical entity that has gained wide acceptance. In this paper, the outcomes of surgical treatment in 30 patients whose headaches were believed to be the result of intranasal contact points are presented. Total relief of the headache and significant improvement were achieved in 43% and 47% of the patients, respectively, after endoscopic endonasal surgery. The intensity of the headache was the same as preoperatively in 10% of the patients. In the absence of any other identifiable etiological factors, intranasal mucosal contacts must be kept in mind as a cause of the headache.