Psychosocial factors in children and adolescents with migraine and tension-type headache: a controlled study and review of the literature

We investigated 341 children and adolescents to evaluate the relevance of psychosocial factors in idiopathic headache. According to the criteria of the International Headache Society, 151 subjects had migraine and 94 had tension-type headache (TTH). Ninety-six subjects were headache-free controls. Psychosocial factors covered family and housing conditions, school problems, relations in the peer group, and several other items. We found that migraine patients did not differ from headache-free controls. Patients with TTH more often had divorced parents than the headache-free controls, and they had fewer peer relations than migraineurs and controls. In addition, migraine patients were significantly more often absent from school due to headache. All other psychosocial factors failed to discriminate between the three study groups. In conclusion, this controlled study in children and adolescents suggests that migraine is not related to family and housing conditions, school situation, or peer relations, whereas TTH is associated with a higher rate of divorced parents and fewer peer relations.

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Controlled Study of Electromyographic-Biofeedback (Emg-Bfb) Efficacy for Tension Type Headache in Children and Adolescents: Results at one Year Follow-up

Cephalalgia ◽

10.1177/0333102495015s1634 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 15 (16_suppl) ◽

pp. 39-39

Author(s):

L. Grazzi ◽

D. D'amico ◽

G. Bussone

Keyword(s):

Children And Adolescents ◽

Tension Type Headache ◽

Controlled Study ◽

Electromyographic Biofeedback ◽

Type Headache ◽

One Year

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Global Burden of Headache Disorders in Children and Adolescents 2007–2017

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18010250 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

pp. 250

Author(s):

Matilde Leonardi ◽

Licia Grazzi ◽

Domenico D’Amico ◽

Paolo Martelletti ◽

Erika Guastafierro ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Children And Adolescents ◽

Tension Type Headache ◽

Global Burden ◽

Specific Information ◽

Headache Disorders ◽

Substantial Impact ◽

Public Health Policies ◽

School Activities ◽

Type Headache ◽

Years Lived With Disability

Headache disorders are prevalent and disabling conditions impacting on people of all ages, including children and adolescents with substantial impact on their school activities and leisure time. Our study aims to report specific information on headaches in children and adolescents based on the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study, that provides estimates for incidence, prevalence, fatal and non-fatal outcomes. We relied on 2007 and 2017 GBD estimates for prevalence and Years Lived with Disability (YLDs) at the global level and in WHO regions. The results show that, migraine and tension-type headache (TTH) together account for 37.5% of all-cause prevalence and for 7% of all-cause YLDs. Over the past decade, prevalence rates showed a mild increase of TTH in all ages and of migraine alone for adolescents. The YLDs increased among females of all ages with some regional differences that might be connected to the unequal availability of effective acute and prophylactic treatments across world regions. GBD data support the need to promote public health policies and strategies including diagnosis, pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments that are expected to help reduce the disability and burden associated to migraine and TTH among children and adolescents.

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Chronic Tension-Type Headache in Children and Adolescents

Cephalalgia ◽

10.1046/j.0333-1024.2001.00275.x ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 21 (8) ◽

pp. 830-836 ◽

Cited By ~ 41

Author(s):

Ishaq Abu-Arafeh

Keyword(s):

Children And Adolescents ◽

Clinical Features ◽

Chronic Daily Headache ◽

Adult Population ◽

Tension Type Headache ◽

Stressful Events ◽

Chronic Tension Type Headache ◽

Daily Headache ◽

Ihs Criteria ◽

Type Headache

In this study, the causes, predisposing factors and clinical features of chronic daily headache in children and adolescents were studied within the population of patients attending a specialist headache. The International Headache Society's (IHS) criteria for the diagnosis of chronic tension type headache (CTTH) were assessed for their applicability in the paediatric age group. Over a period of three years, demographic and clinical data were collected prospectively on all children who attended the clinic and suffered from daily attacks of headache. One hundred and fifteen children and adolescents (32% of all clinic population) had chronic daily headache, of whom 93 patients (81%) fulfilled the IHS criteria for the diagnosis of CTTH. They were between 3-15 years of age (mean: 11.1, SD: 2.3) and their female to male ratio was 1.2: 1. Around one third of the patients also suffered from migraine (mainly migraine without aura). The headache was described as mild in 60.9%, moderate 36.5% and severe 2.6%. Headache was located at the forehead in 53% or over the whole of the head in 29.6%. Pain was described as ‘just sore’ or dull by 73.9%. During attacks of headache, at least half the patients reported light intolerance, noise intolerance, anorexia or nausea. Thirty-two percent of patients had at least one underlying chronic disease that may have contributed to the pathogenesis of the CTTH. Eleven percent had serious stressful events related to family illnesses and in four patients headaches were triggered by family bereavement. Fourteen percent were investigated with neuroimaging and 22% were referred for clinical psychology assessment and management. In conclusion, CTTH is a common cause of headache in children attending a specialist headache clinic. The clinical features closely match those of adult population and the IHS criteria for the diagnosis of CTTH can be adapted for use in children. Predisposing stressful risk factors, physical or emotional, are present in a large proportion.

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