Comparison of headache parameters using headache type and emotional status

Objective: The literature on the impact of headache has traditionally focus ed on the relationship of subject variables to specific headache types. Rec ently, increasing attention is being paid to the impact on disease of emoti onal distress. The current study was designed to determine whether differen ces in subject variables arose when comparing them by headache type vs. emp irically derived emotional distress clusters. Method: A review of responses to measures of headache impact (e.g., duration, medication use) and emotio nal distress (Brief Symptom Inventory, BSI) completed by 292 patients atten ding a headache clinic was conducted. Patient responses were analyzed by he adache type and emotional distress cluster. Results: Comparison by headache type revealed that combined headaches were of longer duration, used more m edications, and were more likely to have seen a chiropractor. Comparison by distress cluster revealed high-distress patients to have missed more days of work, have legal involvement, have sought psychological services, and to be male. Conclusion: The results suggest that clinically useful informatio n can be obtained by using both headache diagnosis and emotional status. In addition, this information may be useful by providing additional knowledge that may lead to different clinical protocols in headache management. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.