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[How frequently is a headache the expression of endogenous depression?]
Deutsche Medizinische Wochenschrift (1946)
|April 18, 1986
Summary
Headaches in 46% of patients referred for neurological assessment were linked to endogenous depression, not physical illness. Antidepressive treatment proved effective, highlighting the psychiatric origin of these headaches.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Medicine
Context:
- Patients presenting with headaches often undergo neurological examinations.
- The differential diagnosis of headache requires consideration of both neurological and psychiatric factors.
Purpose:
- To investigate the prevalence of endogenous depression as a cause of headache in patients referred for neurological assessment.
- To evaluate the diagnostic criteria and treatment efficacy for depression-induced headaches.
Summary:
- A nine-month study examined 148 patients with headaches. Neurological and psychiatric evaluations revealed that 46% (68 patients) had headaches stemming from endogenous depression.
- Diagnosis was confirmed by the presence of an endogenomorphic-depressive axis syndrome, follow-up, and successful antidepressant therapy, excluding other physical causes.
Impact:
- This study underscores the significant role of endogenous depression in headache etiology.
- It advocates for integrated neurological and psychiatric assessments in headache management.
- Highlights the importance of considering psychiatric comorbidities in neurological presentations.