An article in The Journal of Head and Face Pain reported a study looking at parent-adolescent conflict, family functioning, and adolescent autonomy as predictors for depression in teens with headache.
While depression and decreased activity levels are common in adolescents with headache, this study investigated the role of parent-teen interactions as they related to symptoms of depression. The adolescents diagnosed with migraine or chronic daily headache were interviewed independently, as well as videotaped with their parents.
Higher levels of conflict between parent and teen, weaker family functioning, and lower levels of teen autonomy were connected to more depression in the adolescents studied. This research highlights the connection between teens with headache, depressive symptoms and parent-teen interactions……..The Journal of Head and Face Pain Volume 50, Number 4