[Tension, depression, pain. Critical considerations and experimental data regarding idiopathic headache]

Following a discussion of the main psychodynamic theories concerning the etiology of idiopathic headache, the Authors describe their own research. The data reported suggest the existence of a wide range of psycho-behavioural aspects in the different diagnostic groups and it is therefore misleading to consider these in global terms. A revised method of psycho-genetic interpretation relating to migraine patients is proposed. In the second half of the paper the Authors outline a definitive rather than causal interpretation of psychosomatic disorders.