Chronic daily headache: stress and impact on the quality of life.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the stress presence and its influence in the quality of life of patients with chronic daily headache (CDH).


METHODS
A hundred patients with at least 18 years old, with primary headache with duration greater than 4 hours a day, and frequency of 15 or more days monthly for at least three months were studied. Lipp's Inventory of Stress Symptoms and the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form (SF-36) were used.


RESULTS
Stress was observed in 90% of the patients; nearly half of them was in the phase almost exhaustion. Patients with stress when compared with the ones with no stress presented significantly lower scores in all the domains of SF-36; except in physical functioning. The resistance phase presented scores significantly higher than almost exhaustion; except for bodily pain.


CONCLUSIONS
The majority of the patients presented stress with significant reduction in their quality of life. Consequently, the stress could be related with both the development and the maintenance of CDH.
Galego
José Carlos Busto
JC
Department of Neurological Sciences, Medical School of São José do Rio Preto, São José do Rio Preto SP, Brazil. jcgalego@superig.com.br
Moraes
Avelina Maria
AM
Cordeiro
José Antonio
JA
Tognola
Waldir Antonio
WA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors