Headache and cognitive profile in children: a cross-sectional controlled study.
We investigated whether children affected by tension-type headache and migraine without aura, compared with a healthy control group that was matched by age, culturally and socioeconomically display a diverse intellectual functioning and have a separate "cognitive profile". A cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2006 to November 2008 at "Sapienza University" in Rome. A total of 134 children were diagnosed as being affected by either migraine without aura (93) or tension-type headache (41). On the basis of our exclusion/inclusion criteria, we enrolled 82 of these 134 children, 63 of whom were affected by migraine without aura and 19 by tension-type headache. On entry, cognitive functions were assessed in both the affected subjects and the control group by the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-revised. Significant differences were found between the headache and control groups in the mean total intelligence quotient and verbal intelligence quotient scores (p < 0.001). Significant negative correlations were found between the total intelligence quotient, verbal intelligence quotient, performance intelligence quotient and the frequency of attacks (r = -0.55 and p < 0.001, r = -0.61 and p < 0.001, r = -0.29 and p < 0.01, respectively), as well as between the total intelligence quotient score and the age at headache onset (r = 0.234, p < 0.05). Our results suggest that the cognitive profile of children affected by headache should be assessed at the first child neurology outpatient observation. From a therapeutic point of view, although within a normal range, the abilities most likely to be less brilliant in such children are verbal skills.
Child Neurology, Headache Paediatric Center, Paediatric Sleep Centre, Chair of Paediatrics, II Faculty of Medicine, Sapienza University, c/o Sant'Andrea Hospital, Via di Grottarossa, 1035-1039 Rome, Italy. pasquale.parisi@uniroma1.it
Pasquale
P
Parisi
Alberto
A
Verrotti
Maria Chiara
MC
Paolino
Antonella
A
Urbano
Mariangela
M
Bernabucci
Rosa
R
Castaldo
Maria Pia
MP
Villa
D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D032882:Comprehension / Q000502:physiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence / Q000502:physiology; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D020326:Migraine without Aura / Q000150:complications*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018781:Tension-Type Headache / Q000150:complications*; D014705:Verbal Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D014888:Wechsler Scales