Affiliations: Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, Ohio State
University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, USA | Section of Neurology, Columbus Children's Hospital,
Columbus, Ohio, USA | Section of Psychology, Columbus Children's Hospital,
Columbus, Ohio, USA
Note: [] Correspondence: Ann Pakalnis, M.D., Section of Neurology, 700
Children's Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43205, USA. Tel.: +1 614 722 4625; Fax: +1 614
722 4670; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Episodic tension type headaches are common in the pediatric
population. Concurrent behavioral and emotional disorders could significantly
impact treatment options and therapeutic response. Children and adolescents
from our multi-disciplinary headache clinic with episodic tension type
headaches (according to International Classification of Headache Disorders-II)
criteria were evaluated prospectively for presence of concurrent psychologic
disorders with standardized psychologic batteries and case controls were used
for comparison. Parents frequently reported behavioral symptoms, but only
oppositional defiant disorder was significantly represented with anxiety
disorders also very common. Presence of concurrent psychiatric disorders did
not influence headache treatment response.
