Chronic tension-type headache in adolescents. Clinical and psychological characteristics analyzed through self- and parent-report questionnaires.

OBJECTIVES

To analyze the relation between the symptoms reported by adolescents with chronic tension-type headache (CTTH) and their perception of their emotional and behavioral functioning.

METHODS

Two groups of adolescents (clinical group, n = 48; control group, n = 135) and their parents (clinical group, n = 42; control group, n = 128) were studied, respectively, with the Youth Self-Report Questionnaire and the Child Behavior Checklist. Moreover, a secondary analysis was performed, identifying another subgroup of adolescents who reported having headaches.

RESULTS

The clinical group of adolescents obtained higher scores than the control group in Internalizing Syndrome; Aggressive Behavior for Externalizing Syndrome; Social, Thought, and Attention Problems; and in all Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition (DSM-IV)-oriented scales (except conduct problems). Differences between the two groups of parents were found in all the scales. The controls reporting headaches obtained interesting intermediate scores.

CONCLUSIONS

Adolescents with CTTH show greater emotional and behavioral problems than their healthy peers. Consequently, clinical approaches for proper diagnosis and treatment need to adopt a multidisciplinary prospective.