Psychologic factors in chronic headache: assessment by means of the SCL-90-R inventory.
A survey of the psychologic profile of 540 chronic headache cases, including migraine, tension, and mixed headache, has been carried out with the symptom check list (SCL)-90-R inventory. The results obtained were viewed in relation to sex, age, illness onset, and illness duration. Females showed a positive correlation of somatization with present age and with age at onset of illness and a negative correlation of interpersonal sensitivity, hostility, and paranoid ideation with present age and age at onset of illness. Men showed a negative correlation of obsessive-compulsive and paranoid scores with age and a positive correlation between onset of illness and somatization. Data were also analyzed by cluster analysis, which showed underpopulation with peculiar patterns of symptom profile. A prospective, long-term epidemiologic study could provide more conclusive results.
Puca
F M
FM
Istituto di Clinica Malattie Nervose e Mentali, II Clinica Neurologica Università di Bari, Italy.
Antonaci
F
F
Genco
S
S
Savarese
M A
MA
Piazzolla
G
G
Prudenzano
M P
MP
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000145:classification / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors