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Headache attributed to psychiatric disorder: a case series
Elizabeth Loder1, David Biondi
1Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. eloder@partners.org
Psychosomatics
|July 8, 2005
Summary
Psychiatric disorders can be the primary cause of headaches, a connection newly recognized in headache classifications. This study highlights six cases supporting psychiatric disorders as a principal cause of secondary headaches.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Psychiatry
- Headache Medicine
Background:
- The link between psychiatric illness and headache is well-established, though psychiatric disorders as the main cause of headache are considered infrequent.
- The International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD) introduced "Headache attributed to psychiatric disorder" as a new secondary headache category in its 2004 revision.
Observation:
- This study presents six patient cases where a psychiatric disorder was identified as the most plausible etiology for their headaches.
- The observed cases align with or closely resemble the criteria for "Headache attributed to psychiatric disorder" outlined in the ICHD.
Findings:
- Psychiatric disorders can indeed be the principal cause of headaches, validating the new classification.
- The revised ICHD criteria effectively accommodate and recognize headaches stemming directly from psychiatric conditions.
Implications:
- This research supports the inclusion and recognition of psychiatric disorders as a direct cause of secondary headaches within clinical classifications.
- Clinicians should consider psychiatric evaluation when diagnosing and managing patients with unexplained or treatment-resistant headaches.
- Further research is warranted to explore the prevalence and specific mechanisms linking psychiatric disorders and headache conditions.