title: Psychopathological symptoms in child and adolescent migraine and tension-type headache: a meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  After decades of research, the importance of psychological factors in child and adolescent headache is no longer in doubt. However, it is not clearly understood whether different types of headache are comorbid with specific kinds of psychopathology. To address this issue, we set out to establish whether young patients with migraine do or do not show significant levels of psychopathological symptoms compared with age-matched healthy controls and patients with tension-type headache (TTH).
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten studies were selected on the basis of a widely used psychodiagnostic tool (the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL)) and by applying rigorous criteria: The studies were compared in a meta-analysis in order to evaluate the presence of Internalizing (mainly anxiety and depression) and Externalizing (mainly behavioral problems) symptoms in different types of headache (and versus healthy controls).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with migraine showed more psychopathological symptoms than healthy controls. TTH patients also had more psychopathology than controls, although the difference was more marked in the area of Internalizing disorders. Finally, no differences emerged between migraine and TTH.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Psychopathological symptoms affect children with migraine, but also children with TTH. Biological, pathophysiological and clinical links need to be established. Effective treatment of affected children and adolescents is imperative in order to prevent chronic evolution. In this context, the CBCL may be a good screening instrument with a view to developing a tailored clinical approach.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Neurology and Psychiatry, C. Mondino National Institute of Neurology Foundation, IRCCS, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Balottin
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fusar Poli
authors.forename: Cristiano
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Termine
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Molteni
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Galli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D018781:Tension-Type Headache / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult