Triggers of Headache Episodes and Coping Responses of Headache Diagnostic Groups

Abstract

The frequency of common headache instigators or "triggers" and the use of specific behavioral responses to headache episodes were determined using the self-reports of patients with migraine, tension-type, and combined migraine and tension-type headache. Headache diagnostic groups were compared on the nature of headache triggers identified. The diagnostic groups were also compared on the frequency with which they engaged in a set of behavioral responses during headache episodes. No diagnostic group differences were found in triggering stimuli. Emotional, dietary, physical, environmental, and hormonal factors were all reported to be equally likely to precipitate a headache episode regardless of headache diagnosis. There were, however, differences in specific behavioral responses to headache episodes depending upon headache diagnosis. Discriminant analyses were performed to determine the best predictors of headache diagnoses. Migraine patients were significantly more likely to avoid noise, light, social activity, and physical activity compared with tension-type and combined headache patients. When average headache severity was taken into account, the diagnostic group differences in coping responses disappeared. It is concluded from the results of this study that headache severity has a greater impact on coping response than does specific headache diagnosis.

Trigger factors of migraine and tension-type headache: experience and knowledge of the patients

“…Our study clearly indicates that trigger factors do not function in an all-or-none fashion. Scharff et al [5] argued that it may be more appropriate to allow subjects to respond along a continuum of likelihood or frequency than using the dichotomy of yes or no to assess headache triggers and to identify subtle differences in diagnostic categories. The findings in our study support this argument.…”

“…The findings of controlled studies are inconsistent, but certain meteorological parameters seem to precipitate headache at least in some patients [9,10]. Sensory stimuli such as flickering light and glare are particularly related to migraine with aura and they are less important in migraine without aura and pure TTH [5,6,8,11,12]. Psychological factors, in particular stress, are experienced as a major precipitant of migraine and TTH by many patients [4,8] and this finding was confirmed in prospective and controlled studies [13,14].…”

“…Potential trigger factors have been examined most frequently in migraine and less often in TTH. Many of these factors are related to migraine as well as to TTH, but their prevalence may differ in the two headache types [3][4][5][6]. Menstruation, environmental and psychological factors, sleep disturbances, fatigue, alcohol and nutrition are mentioned most frequently.…”

Migraine and motion sickness: What is the link?

“…Stimulation of the special senses increases the intensity of headache and other symptoms of migraine during (Linde, 2006) and outside attacks (Kowacs, Piovesan, Werneck, Tatsui, Lange, Ribas and da Silva, 2001), and can also trigger attacks (Debney, 1984;Scharff, Turk and Marcus, 1995;Granston and Drummond, 2005).…”

Emotions and self‐esteem as indicators of somatic complaints in children

“…In the present study, conducted with children aged 8-13, we focused on several psychological factors that are often associated with reports of somatic complaints in adults and children, these being negative mood valence, symptoms of affect disorders (depression and social anxiety), coping and self-esteem. In contrast to most studies in which these variables are considered separately (Campo, Come, Jansen-McWilliams, Gardner, & Kelleher, 2002;Campo et al, 2004;Gordon, Dooley, & Wood, 2004;Scharff, Turk, & Marcus, 1995) we studied the relationships between these variables from a theory-driven perspective.…”