Chronic daily headache: stress and impact on the quality of life

Abstract

ABSTRACT-Objective: To evaluate the stress presence and its influence in the quality of life of patients with chronic daily headache (CDH). Method: A hundred patients with at least 18 years old, with primary headache with duration greater than 4 hours a day, and frequency of 15 or more days monthly for at least three months were studied. Lipp´s Inventory of Stress Symptoms and the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form (SF-36) were used. Results: Stress was observed in 90% of the patients; nearly half of them was in the phase almost exhaustion. Patients with stress when compared with the ones with no stress presented significantly lower scores in all the domains of SF-36; except in physical functioning. The resistance phase presented scores significantly higher than almost exhaustion; except for bodily pain. Conclusion: The majority of the patients presented stress with significant reduction in their quality of life. Consequently, the stress could be related with both the development and the maintenance of CDH.KEY WORDS: chronic daily headache, stress, quality of life. SP -Brasil. E-mail: jcgalego@superig.com.br The term chronic daily headache (CDH) comprises a group of headaches that manifests in 15 or more days a month, lasting more than 4 hours, including the headaches associated with the excessive use of medication 1 . The prevalence in the general population ranges from 3 to 5%, and women are the most affected 2-4 . Several factors are related with CDH development: abnormal profi le of the personality; stress; the excessive use of symptomatic medication; arterial hypertension; the use of contraceptives or estrogen replacement and traumatic life events 5 . Excessive use of medication is considered the main progression factor for the CDH stage 6 , however, the stress is mentioned as one of the most frequent factors in precipitating and worsening headache episodes 7,8 . Stress represents the tension sensation, anguish and discomfort that an individual can experiment. Those sensations would be consequence of important emotional events and or physical and mental disorders. Basically, stress development depends on both the interpretation of the triggering factors and the coping strategies. The personality characteristics can also determine the individual's answer to stress 9 . At fi rst, Selye proposed the stress development into three phases: Cefaléia crônica diária: estresse e impacto sobre a qualidade de vida RESUMO- Dr. José Carlos Busto Galego -Rua Professor Nelson I. Bento Lutaif 145 -15091-550 São José do Rio Preto

The Association Between Use of Dietary Supplements and Headache or Migraine Complaints

“…Headache is a common health problem in modern society and its detrimental effects on both health and quality of life have been widely documented 1‐5…”

Impact of GP direct-access computerised tomography for the investigation of chronic daily headache

“…4 These potential diagnoses can lead to significant anxiety in many patients. 5,6 Since 1999, GPs in Greater Glasgow have had direct access to computerised tomography (CT) for investigation of chronic headache. There has been recent government interest in GP direct-access scanning, with an announcement that all patients with suspected cancer are to undergo diagnostic imaging within 1 week by 2014.…”

Fatores associados à sintomatologia dolorosa e qualidade de vida em odontólogos da cidade de Teresina - PI

“…Embora sendo profissional da área de saúde, a desinformação acerca dos aspectos psicossociais, ambientais e de organização Tabela 6 -Modelo final explicativo da análise de regressão logística entre os domínios de qualidade de vida do WHOQLBref em odontólogos da cidade de Teresina -PI, 2008. 20,27 . Vale ressaltar que, nos achados do presente estudo, a sintomatologia dolorosa referida pelos participantes se apresentou como o único fator associado ao domínio da qualidade de vida no modelo explicativo final.…”