Classification of Childhood Headaches and Evaluation of Depression, Anxiety and Self-Respect Scales

Elif KOCASOY ORHAN1, Senem BAŞGÜL2, Zuhal YAPICI3, Özden Şükran ÜNERİ2, Mefkure ERAKSOY3

1İstanbul Üniversitesi İstanbul Tıp Fakültesi Nöroloji Anabilim Dalı, İSTANBUL
2Kocaeli Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Çocuk Ruh Sağlığı Anabilim Dalı, KOCAELİ
3İstanbul Üniversitesi İstanbul Tıp Fakültesi Nöroloji Anabilim Dalı Çocuk Nörolojisi Birimi, İSTANBUL

Keywords: childhood headache, depression, anxiety, self-esteem, headache and psychiatric comorbidity

Abstract

Background: The criteria for headache of the lnternational Headache Society (IHS) currently used in diagnosis of headaches, though revised, are not likely as useful in children and adolescents as in adults. Depression and anxiety disorders can be seen commonly in children with headaches. Objectives: The purpose of our study was to classify the children with headaches according to the criteria of IHS (1988-2003), and to determine the levels of anxiety and depression in these children as well as to evaluate their self respect.
Material and Methods: Sixtythree patients from 191 records were reevaluated according to the criteria, sociodemographic variables, school status and family history. The Children's Depression lnventory(CDI), State­Trait Anxiety Inventory For Children(S-TAIC), Cooper-Smith Self-Esteem lnventory(SEI) and Piers-Harris Children's Self Concept Scale(CSCS) were applied and scored for 55 of these patients.
Results: Thirtyeight of the 63 patients were female (60%) and 25 were male (39%). Mean age was 12.6 ± 3.3. There were 3(4.7%) migraine with aura, 29(46%) migraine without aura, 11 (17%) tension type headache, 2(3%) post-traumatic headache, and 1 (1.6%) mixed type headache. Our 17 children (27%) did not meet the criteria revised according to some recent reports. In children with headache, the followings found over limit points; 6(10%) of CDI, 10(18%) of SAIC, 16(29%) of TAIC. No significant correlation could be found between headache types and scales.
Conclusio It seems new clinical trials are to be needed for current classification in children. The pshyciatric scales can make the prompt evaluation.