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Emotional and Behavioral Problems
in Children and Adolescents with Primary Headache
Just U, Oelkers R, Bender S, et al.
Posted: September 2004  
Cephalalgia 2003;23:206-213

Psychiatric co-morbidity is an important risk factor for chronification of primary headache into adulthood. The aim of this study was to investigate the extent and clinical relevance of emotional and behavioral problems in children and adolescents with primary headache. Children and adolescents with primary headache and 83 matched controls aged 6-18 years were examined by standardized dimensional psychometric tests. Children and adolescents with primary headache suffer more often from internalizing problems (depression, anxiety, and somatization) than healthy controls. The detected emotional and behavioral problems are clinically relevant and require particular therapy in every third child suffering from headache. Two out of three children and adolescents with primary headache do not show clinically relevant psychopathology and may benefit from minimal therapeutic intervention. One of three examined headache patients needs additional psychiatric therapy.