Tension-type headache in children: a clinical evaluation

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Neurology
• Child Psychiatry
• Headache Medicine

Background:

• Episodic tension-type headache (TTH) diagnosis followed International Headache Society (IHS) criteria.
• Evaluation included pain characteristics, associated symptoms, and stress triggers.
• Psychiatric and psychosocial assessments utilized DSM-IV criteria.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between tension-type headaches and psychiatric disorders in children.
• To identify common stress factors associated with TTH in pediatric patients.
• To determine the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in children with TTH.

Main Methods:

• Assessed pain characteristics (e.g., location, intensity, aggravating/alleviating factors).
• Identified stress-triggering factors, including school adaptation and family relationships.
• Conducted psychiatric evaluations based on DSM-IV criteria.

Main Results:

• Pain was predominantly bilateral (93.7%) and bitemporal (50%) in affected children.
• Pain intensity increased with motion and stress; rest and massage provided relief for many.
• A significant proportion (62.5%) of children were diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder.
• School adaptation difficulties and family relationship problems were common stressors.
• Children with psychiatric disorders reported a higher number of stress factors (76.9%).

Conclusions:

• Tension-type headaches in children frequently coexist with psychiatric disorders.
• A thorough psychiatric evaluation is crucial for diagnosing and managing pediatric TTH.
• Addressing underlying psychiatric conditions may be key to effective TTH treatment in children.