title: Photophobia in primary headaches, in essential blepharospasm and in major depression.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although photophobia is a well-known symptom in various disorders, it has rarely been studied explicitly and its definition in a clinical setting can be somewhat elusive. Here, we assessed photophobia with a common psychometric tool in different conditions, in which light intolerance is considered part of the syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective study was undertaken in patients with migraine (MH), cluster headache (CH), tension-type headache (TH), essential blepharospasm (BS) and major depression (MD). Photophobia was assessed by the photophobia questionnaire (range 0-8). Symptom severity was measured in each patient group with appropriate scales. Finally, depression was assessed explicitly in each condition.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hundred and six subjects met the inclusion criteria (MH: 27, CH: 21, TH: 20, BS: 18, MD: 20). Photophobia scores differed between patient groups, with migraineurs showing the highest (6.63) and TH patients the lowest (2.10) scores (ranking: MH, BS, CH, MD and TH). Symptom severity as well as depression had little, if any, influence on the degree of photophobia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Photophobia is a core symptom of migraine but also constitutes a feature of other neurological conditions. The relative independence from other, disease-specific features, suggests that photophobia is a rather autonomous symptom.
authors: a Department of Neurology, Eginition Hospital , University of Athens , Athens , Greece.
authors: Evangelos
authors: E
authors: Anagnostou
authors: a Department of Neurology, Eginition Hospital , University of Athens , Athens , Greece.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Vikelis
authors: b Department of Psychiatry, Eginition Hospital , University of Athens , Athens , Greece.
authors: Elias
authors: E
authors: Tzavellas
authors: a Department of Neurology, Eginition Hospital , University of Athens , Athens , Greece.
authors: Apostolia
authors: A
authors: Ghika
authors: a Department of Neurology, Eginition Hospital , University of Athens , Athens , Greece.
authors: Ioanna
authors: I
authors: Kouzi
authors: a Department of Neurology, Eginition Hospital , University of Athens , Athens , Greece.
authors: Ioannis
authors: I
authors: Evdokimidis
authors: a Department of Neurology, Eginition Hospital , University of Athens , Athens , Greece.
authors: Evangelia
authors: E
authors: Kararizou
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001764:Blepharospasm / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D051270:Headache Disorders, Primary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020795:Photophobia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: blepharospasm; cluster headache; depression; migraine; photophobia; tension-type headache