Tension headache: disregulation at some levels of stress.
This study evaluated the role of stress disregulation in tension headache. Two headache groups, a low-life stress group (N = 12) and a high-life stress group (N = 12), that represented different probable etiologies within the disregulation model were compared to analogous control groups. Subjects were selected after screening 441 undergraduate students. Measures of frontalis EMG and self-report acute stress were obtained at multiple intervals during a series of four laboratory stress tasks. Data supported the disregulation model as determined by replication of the significantly different correlations between self-report acute stress and EMG for the headache versus control groups reported by Hovanitz and co-workers (1989), and by several new within-group and within-individual analyses. Curiously, disregulation was found for acute and life stress but not for the intermediate level of daily hassle stress. These data are presented as support for a reformulation of Schwartz' disregulation model.
Hovanitz
C A
CA
University of Cincinnati, Ohio 45221.
Wander
M R
MR
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001143:Arousal; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications*