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Open Access 01-12-2018 | Research article

Psychological distress, neuroticism and disability associated with secondary chronic headache in the general population – the Akershus study of chronic headache

Authors: Espen Saxhaug Kristoffersen, Kjersti Aaseth, Ragnhild Berling Grande, Christofer Lundqvist, Michael Bjørn Russell

Published in: The Journal of Headache and Pain | Issue 1/2018

Abstract

Background

Primary headaches are associated with psychological distress, neuroticism and disability. However, little is known about headache-related disability and psychological distress among people with secondary chronic headaches.

Methods

30,000 persons aged 30–44 from the general population was screened for headache by a questionnaire. The responder rate was 71%. The International Classification of Headache Disorders with supplementary definitions for chronic rhinosinusitis and cervicogenic headache were used. The Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 assessed high psychological distress, the Migraine Disability Assessment questionnaire assessed disability, and Eysenck Personality Questionnaire assessed neuroticism.

Results

Ninety-five of the 113 eligible participants (84%) completed the self-reported questionnaire. A total of 38 people had chronic post-traumatic headache, 21 had cervicogenic headache, and 39 had headache attributed to chronic rhinosinusitis, while 9 had co-occurrence of chronic post-traumatic and cervicogenic headache. Six persons had miscellaneous secondary chronic headaches. Overall, 49% of those with secondary chronic headache reported high psychological distress, which is significantly higher than in the general population. A high level of neuroticism was significantly more common in those with secondary chronic headache than in the general population. Severe headache-related disability was reported by 69%. 92 persons were followed up after 3 years. A low headache frequency was the only significant predictor of improvement of ≥ 25% in headache days. Having post-traumatic or cervicogenic headache and not headache attributed to chronic rhinosinusitis predicted an increased risk > 25% worsening of headache days or having a severe disability at 3 years follow-up.

Conclusion

Psychological distress and neuroticism were more common among people with secondary chronic headache than in the general population. Only a high headache frequency was significantly associated with increased headache disability at baseline and a poor prognosis in the long term.

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Title: Psychological distress, neuroticism and disability associated with secondary chronic headache in the general population – the Akershus study of chronic headache
Authors: Espen Saxhaug Kristoffersen
Kjersti Aaseth
Ragnhild Berling Grande
Christofer Lundqvist
Michael Bjørn Russell
Publication date: 01-12-2018
Publisher: Springer Milan
Published in: The Journal of Headache and Pain / Issue 1/2018
Print ISSN: 1129-2369
Electronic ISSN: 1129-2377
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s10194-018-0894-7

ACC 2024 Congress

Springer Medicine

Psychological distress, neuroticism and disability associated with secondary chronic headache in the general population – the Akershus study of chronic headache

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

ACC 2024 Congress

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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