[The effect of insomnia therapy on treatment outcomes in patients with chronic tension headache]

To assess objective and subjective sleep indicators in patients with chronic tension headache and their change during therapy.

The study included 65 patients with chronic tension headache and insomnia. The assessment was conducted using headache questionnaires (headache VAS, headache diary, HIT-6, pain catastrophization scale), sleep quality questionnaires (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), sleep quality VAS), psychometric testing (Beck Depression Scale, Sheehan Anxiety Scale), a central sensitization questionnaire, and polysomnography. Patients were divided into two groups: patients of group 1 received prophylactic treatment with a drug for relief of insomnia symptoms and recommendations for sleep hygiene according to clinical guidelines, and patients of group 2 received only a drug for prophylactic treatment of headache.

In the group with insomnia treatment, the duration of the S3 phase of slow-wave sleep increased from 31.5 (27;36) to 47 (42;49) minutes and the subjective duration of sleep from 360±90 to 453.33±66.14 minutes, the severity of insomnia PSQI score decreased from 13 (10;15) to 7 (5;10) points, the frequency of headache reduced from 20.00 [17.00; 24.00] to 8.00 [5.00; 11.00] days and the pain intensity VAS decreased from 7.00 [6.00; 7.00] to 4.00 [3.00; 6.00] points, the anxiety severity according to the Sheehan Anxiety Scale decreased from 43 [26;51] to 19 [16;34 ] points and depression severity according to the Beck Depression Scale reduced from 14 [12;18] to 7 [6;10.5] points.

Diagnosis and treatment of insomnia in patients with chronic tension headaches is an important strategy in managing this group of patients. This strategy allows not only to improve the objective and subjective sleep parameters but also to reduce the headache and the severity of comorbidities.