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Updated: Jul 3, 2026
10:39
3D-Neuronavigation In Vivo Through a Patient's Brain During a Spontaneous Migraine Headache
Published on: June 2, 2014
Headache secondary to psychiatric disorders
Todd A Smitherman1, Steven M Baskin
1Head Pain Center, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 North State Street, Jackson, MS 39216, USA. tsmitherman@residents.umsmed.edu
Current Pain and Headache Reports
|July 16, 2008
Summary
Psychiatric disorders frequently co-occur with headaches, particularly depression and anxiety with migraine. Research is exploring headaches directly caused by psychiatric conditions, highlighting the need for integrated care.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Psychiatry
- Headache Medicine
Background:
- Growing interest in the complex relationship between psychiatric disorders and headaches.
- High comorbidity rates observed between psychiatric conditions (depression, anxiety) and headache types (migraine, tension-type).
- Comorbid psychiatric disorders are linked to headache progression and chronification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent developments in the psychiatric disorder-headache relationship.
- To focus on headaches exclusively secondary to psychiatric disturbances, termed 'headache attributed to psychiatric disorder'.
- To identify areas for future research.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent studies.
- Analysis of the comorbidity between psychiatric disorders and headaches.
- Examination of headaches attributed to psychiatric disorders.
Main Results:
- Confirmed high rates of comorbidity between psychiatric disorders and common headache types.
- Identified psychiatric disorders as risk factors for headache chronification.
- Highlighted a specific category: headache attributed to psychiatric disorder.
Conclusions:
- The relationship between psychiatric conditions and headache is complex and requires integrated assessment and treatment.
- Further research is needed, particularly on headaches directly stemming from psychiatric disorders.
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