Aggressiveness in different presentations of cluster headache: results from a controlled multicentric study.
BACKGROUND
The hypothalamus has been discussed as a pivotal structure for both cluster headache (CH) and aggressiveness, but little is known about the extent of self-reported aggressiveness in patients with CH.


METHODS
Twenty-six patients with chronic, 25 with active episodic and 22 with episodic CH outside the active period were examined interictally with a validated questionnaire quantifying factors of aggression and compared with 24 migraine patients and 31 headache-free volunteers.


RESULTS
The ANOVA was significant for the subscale 'self-aggression/depression' (F(4, 123) = 5.771, p < 0.001) with significant differences between chronic and episodic CH and healthy volunteers. No significant changes were found for other subscales and the sum scale (F(4, 123) < 1.421, p > 0.230). Especially in the clinically most affected group of patients (chronic CH and active episodic CH), high levels of "self-aggression/depression" correlate with higher prevalence of depressive symptoms and higher impairment measured on an emotional and functional level.


CONCLUSIONS
Self-aggressive and depressive cognitions with highest scores in chronic CH seem to be reactive as they correlate with depressive symptoms and impairment. They should be considered as an important therapeutic target since they impair the patient's life significantly.
University of Regensburg, Germany.
Ralf
R
Luerding
Karsten
K
Henkel
Charly
C
Gaul
Thomas
T
Dresler
Andrea
A
Lindwurm
Yvonne
Y
Paelecke-Habermann
Elke
E
Leinisch
Tim P
TP
Jürgens
D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D003027:Cluster Headache / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D010551:Personality / Q000502:physiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards