Psychopathology in children and adolescents with primary headaches: Categorical and dimensional approaches

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Recurrent headache is common in childhood, but there is not a great amount of data on the associations between headaches and psychopathology in children. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to examine the relationships between primary headaches and psychopathology in children, using both the categorical and dimensional assessment. METHODS: The sample consisted of 70 patients with primary headache compared to a matched sample of 50 healthy children. Psychiatric comorbidity was defined according to the diagnostic criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Disorders. Child psychopathology outcomes were assessed using child- and parent-reported standardized instruments. RESULTS: Internalizing and externalizing problems were significantly represented among children with headaches compared to the control group, respectively 63% and 27%, without significant differences between migraine and tension-type headache children. Moreover, a total of 26% of the children with a headache reported psychiatric comorbidity such as anxiety and mood disorders. CONCLUSION: The dimensional approach improves accuracy in the recognition of emotional and behavioral problems compared to the categorical approach; however, the use of both of these approaches could be useful for clinical practice, treatment and research.


Tutti gli autori

  • MARGARI F.;MARGARI L.;PETRUZZELLI M.G.

Titolo volume/Rivista

Non Disponibile


Anno di pubblicazione

2013

ISSN

0333-1024

ISBN

Non Disponibile


Numero di citazioni Wos

11

Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

Non Disponibile


Numero di citazioni Scopus

13

Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

Non Disponibile


Settori ERC

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Codici ASJC

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