Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 30, 2026

3D-Neuronavigation In Vivo Through a Patient's Brain During a Spontaneous Migraine Headache
Published on: June 2, 2014
Variables Associated With the Use of Prophylactic Amitriptyline Treatment in Patients With Tension-type Headache
Maria Palacios-Ceña1,2, Kelun Wang2, Matteo Castaldo2,3,4
1Department Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation, and Physical Medicine, University Rey Juan Carlos.
Objective:
The objective of this study was to investigate differences in clinical, psychological, and psychophysical outcomes according to use of prophylactic medication (amitriptyline) in tension-type headache (TTH).
Methods:
In total, 173 individuals with TTH participated. Headache features and symptomatic medication intake were collected with a 4-weeks headache diary at baseline and at 6-months. Burden of headache (Headache Disability Inventory-HDI), sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index-PSQI), anxiety/depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-HADS), and trait/state anxiety levels (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-STAI) were also assessed at baseline. Pressure pain thresholds (PPT) were assessed over the temporalis, C5-C6 joint, second metacarpal, and tibialis anterior at baseline. Differences between participants taking or not taking prophylactic medication based on self-perceived effectiveness of the medication on headache characteristics were assessed.
Results:
In total, 49 (28%) reported taking prophylactic medication for the headaches (amitriptyline: 100%). From these, 11 (23%) reported no effect, 25 (51%) reported moderate effect, and 13 (26%) reported positive effect with medication. Patients taking prophylactic medication had longer headache history, higher frequency of headaches (61% CTTH), higher headache burden, worse quality of sleep, and higher depression than those not taking medication. Prophylactic medication was less effective in patients with generalized pressure pain hyperalgesia. No other significant differences were found.
Conclusions:
Prophylactic medication is used by TTH patients with higher headache frequency, higher headache burden, worse sleep quality, and higher depression. Lower effectiveness of prophylactic amitriptyline was associated with widespread pain hyperalgesia.
Related Concept Videos
Tension
Surface Tension, Capillary Action, and Viscosity
The various IMFs between identical molecules of a substance are examples of cohesive forces. The molecules within a liquid are surrounded by other molecules and are attracted equally in all directions by the cohesive forces within the liquid. However, the molecules on the surface of a liquid are attracted only by about one-half as many molecules. Because of the unbalanced molecular attractions on the surface molecules, liquids contract to form a shape that minimizes the number...
Variability: Analysis
The range is a simple measure of variability, indicating the difference between the highest and...
Random Variables
Uppercase letters such as X or Y denote a random variable. Lowercase letters like x or y denote the value of a random variable. If X is a random variable, then X is written in words, and x is given as a number.
For example, let X = the...
Graphs of Equations in Two Variables
Variables Affecting Phosphorescence and Fluorescence

