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Related Experiment Videos

When headaches are good.

R C Packard, F Andrasik, R Weaver

    Headache
    |February 1, 1989
    PubMed
    Summary
    This summary is machine-generated.

    Patients sometimes describe migraine headaches as "good," but this is a figure of speech. These headaches may offer a relative benefit by providing a break or resolving conflict.

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    Area of Science:

    • Neurology
    • Psychiatry
    • Psychosomatic Medicine

    Background:

    • Migraine headaches are a common neurological disorder.
    • Patient descriptions of symptoms can be complex and nuanced.
    • Understanding subjective patient experiences is crucial for effective diagnosis and treatment.

    Observation:

    • Three cases of migraine patients describing their headaches as "good" were examined.
    • Initial patient clarification indicated "good" was a figure of speech for "bad."
    • Deeper exploration revealed a relative benefit or coping mechanism associated with the headache.

    Findings:

    • The term "good" in headache description often signifies a secondary gain.
    • Headaches may provide a "time out" from stressful situations or obligations.

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  • Headaches can serve as an acceptable way to resolve interpersonal conflicts or express repressed emotions like anger.

    • Implications:

    • Clinicians should explore the potential secondary gains when patients use unusual descriptors for headaches.
    • Recognizing the psychosomatic component of headaches can lead to more comprehensive patient care.
    • The presence of a "good" headache may indicate underlying stressors or unresolved emotional issues that are worse than the headache itself.