PSYCHOSOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL-CHARACTERISTICS IN CHRONIC HEADACHE PATIENTS - SUPPORT FOR A CONTINUUM AND DUAL-DIAGNOSTIC APPROACH

The present study attempted to identify psychological differences amon g different headache diagnoses defined by MS criteria as well as psych ological differences by headache intensity and frequency. Differences between diagnostic categories reflected characteristics used to assign diagnoses, namely the constancy of pain and distracting behaviors of significant others due to isolating behavior from photophobia and phon ophobia. A rating of headache intensity and frequency was a more power ful predictor of psychological ratings than diagnosis. Diagnosis was r elated to headache frequency but not intensity. The results suggest th at a continuum diagnosis based on severity can be useful in conceptual izing headaches, and a dual-diagnostic system integrating headache cha racteristics with perceptions and coping ability would be helpful in d etermining treatment options.