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Psychosocial aspects of chronic daily headache

Kristine Barton-Donovan1, Edward B Blanchard

  • 1Center for Stress and Anxiety Disorders, Social Science 230, University at Albany-SUNY, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12222, USA.

The Journal of Headache and Pain
|December 20, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Chronic daily headache sufferers experience more psychological distress and lower quality of life compared to episodic headache and non-headache groups. Life stress levels were similar across all groups, indicating distress is not solely stress-related.

Area of Science:

  • Psychiatry
  • Neurology
  • Psychology

Background:

  • Chronic daily headache (CDH) research on psychosocial factors is conflicting.
  • Previous studies have not compared CDH patients to both episodic headache and non-headache controls.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate psychosocial factors in chronic daily headache.
  • To compare psychological distress, life stress, and quality of life in CDH patients versus episodic headache patients and non-headache controls.

Main Methods:

  • Nineteen CDH patients were compared to 19 matched episodic headache patients and 16 matched non-headache controls.
  • Measures included psychological distress (MMPI, BDI, STAI), life stress (major events, hassles, daily stress), and quality of life (SF-36).

Main Results:

  • CDH patients showed significantly higher psychological distress and poorer quality of life than non-headache controls.
  • CDH patients had significantly higher depression and social introversion (MMPI) and lower vitality (SF-36) than episodic headache patients.
  • All groups reported comparable life stress levels.

Conclusions:

  • Chronic daily headache is associated with greater psychological distress and poorer quality of life, independent of life stress levels.
  • These findings suggest underlying psychological factors contribute to CDH beyond stress.
  • Further research into the specific psychosocial contributors to CDH is warranted.

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