[A personalized approach to the treatment of chronic tension headache and comorbid mental disorders]

To compare the effectiveness of a standard and personalized approach to the management of patients with chronic tension headache (CTH) and concomitant mental disorders.

The study included 97 CTH patients, randomized into two groups. Patients in Group 1 (main) (n=45) received a personalized approach, including psychiatrist consulting and psychopharmacotherapy, according to their comorbid psychopathological symptoms. The comparison group patients (n=52) received standard care with neurologist consultation and follow-up. The study protocol involved 6 months of therapy and follow-up with efficacy assessment at two points - 3 and 6 months after the start of treatment. The pain severity was assessed using VAS and McGill questionnaire. The severity of subjective pain, the patient's focus on his disease, and the pain catastrophizing were assessed using the pain catastrophization scale (PCS). Insomnia symptoms were objectively assessed using the insomnia severity index (ISI) questionnaire. The Hamilton scale was used to assess the severity of depression.

A personalized approach involving a psychiatrist in the management of patients with CTH and concomitant mental disorders is significantly more effective in the short term and retains certain advantages over the standard of care six months after the start of treatment.

The results of the study indicate the need for a wider use of a personalized approach in the clinical practice for CTH patients.