title: Living With Cluster Headache: A Qualitative Study of Patients' Perspectives.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our aim was to explore the views and experiences of a group of Spanish men suffering from cluster headache (CH).
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  CH has considerable effects on patients' quality of life, impairs everyday activities, and can modify lifestyle. This is the first time the experience of patients with CH is examined in a clinical study using a qualitative, phenomenological approach.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a qualitative phenomenological study exploring how 20 male patients with CH, followed at the Headache Unit of a Spanish hospital, perceived their disease. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, researchers' field notes and patients' personal letters. A systematic text condensation analysis was performed following appropriate guidelines for qualitative research.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean age was 41.15 years (standard deviation, 11.25). Seventeen patients had episodic CH and three patients had chronic CH. Five main themes describing the significance of suffering CH emerged: (a) meaning of disease, (b) experience of attacks, (c) meaning of treatment, (d) healthcare, and (e) social and family interaction. Patients with CH often live in fear and uncertainty because of their condition. Intensity and frequency of attacks, the use of ineffective treatments, skepticism perceived from social and workplace environments and physician unawareness play a significant role.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Qualitative research offers insight into the way CH patients experience their disease, and may be helpful in establishing a fruitful relationship with these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, "Grupo de Investigación Traslacional en el Proceso de Salud - Enfermedad (ITPSE),", Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Domingo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Palacios-Ceña
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Blanca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Talavera
authors.affiliation: Headache Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: López-Ruiz
authors.affiliation: Headache Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Álvaro
authors.initials: Á
authors.lastname: Gutiérrez-Viedma
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, "Grupo de Investigación Traslacional en el Proceso de Salud - Enfermedad (ITPSE),", Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Palacios-Ceña
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Universidad Alfonso X el Sabio, Villanueva de la Cañada, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: José A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Arias
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, "Grupo de Investigación Traslacional en el Proceso de Salud - Enfermedad (ITPSE),", Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: César
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fernández-de-Las-Peñas
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain.|Headache Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: María L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Cuadrado
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003027:Cluster Headache / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D033262:Narration; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011788:Quality of Life; D012938:Social Perception; D013030:Spain; D035501:Uncertainty
keywords: cluster headache; patients; qualitative research; quality of life