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.
Parisi
Pasquale
P
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
Verrotti
Alberto
A
Paolino
Maria Chiara
MC
Urbano
Antonella
A
Bernabucci
Mariangela
M
Castaldo
Rosa
R
Villa
Maria Pia
MP
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