Psychosocial Factors and Prediction of Headaches in College Adults

The current study evaluated psychosocial variables that may contribute to the experience of headache in college adults. One hundred ninety-nine participants, 103 women and 96 men, completed head pain logs for 4 weeks after completing measures assessing psychosocial variables. Multiple regression analyses indicated that level of emotional functioning, perception of stress, and gender were predictive of future headache frequency, intensity, and duration. Family history and health habits did not predict headache activity. These findings are consistent with research investigating psychosocial variables and headache activity.     

Neuroactive Properties of Reproductive Steroids

Migraine is 3 times more common in postpubertal women than in men. Migraine is frequently exacerbated perimenstrually and commonly occurs exclusively at that time. It is often benefited by pregnancy and menopause. Estrogen withdrawal has been implicated as a mechanism for triggering migraines. The mechanism, however, is not well understood. Reproductive steroids have neuroactive properties that can modulate neuronal morphology and physiology. Increasing evidence suggests that circulating reproductive steroid levels regulate the balance of neuroexcitatory and neuroinhibitory activities in some brain regions by influencing synaptic plasticity. Estrogen has neuroexcitatory, whereas progesterone has neuroinhibitory, effects in most preclinical and clinical models. Several neurotransmitter systems that are implicated in migraine vary with reproductive steroid levels during the reproductive cycle. Estrogen stabilization may provide effective treatment in susceptible women, especially for catamenially exacerbated migraine.     

Anticephalgic Photoprotective Premeditated Mask. A Report of a Successful Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study of a New Treatment for Headaches With Associated Frontalis Pain and Photophobia

This study was performed to determine the efficacy of an anticephalgic photoprotective premedicated mask in the treatment of migraine and/or tension-type headaches. There were 54 patients. They were given masks and numbered bottles of topical medication containing either salicin or placebo. The patients were instructed to apply the medication to their frontalis region in the event they should suffer a headache, apply a photoprotective mask, and lie down. Furthermore, they were instructed to take their usual oral or parenteral medications, if required, for relief of the headache. They subsequently filled out forms rating the degree of relief which they attributed to the topical medications and the masks using a 0 to 10 scale. They were also simply asked if this form of treatment helped or not.
Seven of the 20 patients receiving placebo stated the medication and mask helped. The placebo group rated the treatment an average of 4.31 on a 0 to 10 scale. Twenty-eight of 34 patients receiving salicin stated it was effective. The salicin group rated it 7.42 on a 0 to 10 scale ( P <0.001). The majority of the salicin patients stated the duration of their headaches was significantly reduced, as was their need for analgesic and/or narcotic medications.
This study demonstrates a significant difference between placebo and salicin in association with the photoprotective mask in treating migraines and/or tension-type headaches with associated frontalis pain and photophobia.     

Psychophysiological correlates of induced headaches

The psychophysiological correlates of induced headaches were examined. Subjects with frequent muscle-contraction headaches, frequent migraine headaches, or infrequent headaches were exposed to a 1-h cognitive stressor while multiple electromyographic and cardiovascular measures were monitored. The stressor was associated with significant changes in all psychophysiological measures. Eleven of 16 headache subjects and 2 of 8 control subjects developed headaches. Significant associations between several psychophysiological variables and headache occurrence were found and individual differences in the association between psychophysiological variables and headaches intensity were examined. The results were consistent with the hypothesized role of cardiovascular factors in the pathophysiology of muscle-contraction headache. This was the first controlled demonstration of headaches occurring as a function of environmental stressors.This research was supported by Grant 5-R01-NS-1875 from the National Institute of Health.     

The Treatment of Medically Intractable Trigeminal Autonomic Cephalalgia With Supraorbital/Supratrochlear Stimulation: A Retrospective Case Series

Introduction: This is a retrospective case series of five patients with intractable trigeminal autonomic cephalalgia (TAC) who were implanted with a supraorbital/supratrochlear neuromodulation system. Objectives: The aim of this Institutional Review Board–approved study was to investigate the percentage of pain relief, treatment response, pain level, work status, medication intake, implantation technique, lead placement, programming information, and device use. Results: Trial stimulation led to implantation of all five patients. All patients reported improvement in their functional status in regard to activities of daily living. The device was revised in two patients due to skin erosion. It was later reimplanted in both patients due to worsening of symptoms, again with good pain relief. The device was explanted in two other patients because of the need to perform a magnetic resonance imaging or implant an automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator. The follow‐up of the patients ranged between 18 months and 36 months, with a mean of 25.2 months. There was no change in work status. Following the implant, the Visual Analog Scale score was reduced to a mean of 1.6 from an initial mean score of 8.9. Three patients were completely weaned off opioid medications, while two patients continued to take opioid at a lower dosage. All patients experienced a decrease of the adjuvant neuropathic drugs. Conclusion: Supraorbital/supratrochlear nerve stimulation appears to be a promising modality for the treatment of patients with intractable TAC.     

半结构性问询在儿童复发性头痛诊断中的运用

目的探讨半结构性问询在儿童复发性头痛诊断中的运用。方法对2007年10月至2010年10月门诊及病房诊治的90例复发性头痛病人进行半结构性问询、随访、全面的体格检查及神经系统检查并辅以必要的辅助检查。结果①90例复发性头痛患者中88例(97.8%)为原发性头痛,63例偏头痛,其中3例合并紧张性头痛,22例为可能的偏头痛,2例癔病性头痛;继发性头痛2例(2%),分别为颅内肿瘤1例、屈光不正1例;②疑诊为窦性头痛的复发性头痛患者经抗生素及中成药治疗鼻窦炎后头痛无缓解;③实验室检查中经颅多普勒超声检查显示的血管痉挛或扩张的部位与头痛部位无相关性,EEG检查多无明显异常。结论偏头痛是复发性头痛的常见原因;慢性鼻窦炎无急性发作不会导致窦性头痛。在复发性头痛诊断中应用结构性问询,并加强随访,既提高了诊断率,又避免了不必要的检查。