title: Chronic post-traumatic headache after mild head injury: a descriptive study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aetiology behind chronic post-traumatic headache (CPTH) after mild head injury is unclear and management is complicated. In order to optimize treatment strategies we aimed to characterize a CPTH population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety patients with CPTH and 45 patients with chronic primary headaches were enrolled from the Danish Headache Center. All patients were interviewed about demographic and headache data. They completed the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (HTQ), Rivermead Post Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire, SF-36 and a headache diary.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The CPTH group experienced more cognitive ( P < 0.001) and somatic symptoms ( P = 0.048) and rated their self-perceived health as more affected in terms of physical function ( P = 0.036), physical role function ( P = 0.012) and social function ( P = 0.012) than the control group. Surprisingly, 31% of the CPTH group had a score equal to or above the cut-off score for having post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) according to the HTQ. In terms of demographics and headache, the groups were comparable except the CPTH group were more often without affiliation to the labour market ( P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The loss of work capacity and high levels of disability for the CPTH patients suggests directions for further research into what important factors are embedded in the patients' PTSD symptoms and might explain their prolonged illness.
authors.affiliation: Danish Headache Center, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Dorte
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kjeldgaard
authors.forename: Hysse
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Forchhammer
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Teasdale
authors.forename: Rigmor H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Jensen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D020773:Headache Disorders; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D038223:Post-Concussion Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D051298:Post-Traumatic Headache / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014938:Work Capacity Evaluation
keywords: Chronic post-traumatic headache; Harvard Trauma Questionnaire; Quality of Life; Rivermead Post Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire; SF-36; brain concussion