To systematically characterize the clinical features of headache attributed to anxiety and depressive disorders (HA-ADD) for better recognition and management, emphasizing the importance of early diagnosis.
Key Findings:
Predominantly female cohort (70.3%) with a median age of 36 years.
Common locations: temporal (47.5%) and parietal (35.6%).
60.4% of attacks lasted less than 4 hours.
Associated symptoms included phonophobia (79.2%), restlessness/agitation (58.4%), dizziness (57.4%), and nausea (51.5%).
Emotional fluctuations (71.3%) and poor sleep quality (57.4%) were predominant triggers.
73.2% of patients experienced severe headache-related functional impairment (HIT-6 score >60).
Exclusion criteria included a history of any diagnosis meeting the ICHD-3 criteria for primary headache disorders.
Interpretation:
HA-ADD presents a distinct clinical profile that differentiates it from common primary headache disorders, highlighting the need for specific diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, which could improve patient outcomes.
Limitations:
Study conducted at a single center, limiting generalizability.
Reliance on patient recall for headache and mood symptom correlation may introduce bias, potentially affecting the accuracy of findings.
Conclusion:
The study provides a detailed characterization of HA-ADD, which may facilitate earlier diagnosis and appropriate treatment interventions, underscoring the need for further research in this area.
