Assessment of headache in children with psychiatric symptoms

Background: This study aims to evaluate the relationship between headaches and psychiatric symptoms in a psychiatric clinic. Methods: We compared 102 children aged 8-16 years (31 girls, 30.4%) who presented to the child and adolescent psychiatry clinic (study group) with 100 children aged 8-16 years, (52 girls, 52%) who did not (control group). Headache was evaluated with the Headache-Attributed Restriction, Disability, Social Handicap, and Impaired Participation (HARDSHIP) Questionnaire. Psychiatric symptoms (depression, anxiety, sleep, attention, hyperactivity) were evaluated via standardized scales. Results: The study group had more headaches in the preceding year as well as the day before. Depression, anxiety and sleep problems were positively correlated with headache frequency in the preceding week in the study group, and in the study group, children with migraine had more depression, anxiety, and emotional problems. While the total quality of life (QoL) scores were not significantly different between groups, migraine decreased the QoL in both the study and control groups. Conclusion: This study indicates that headache type and burden should be evaluated in psychiatric clinics as depression and anxiety are associated with headache, especially migraine.