The effects of persistent pain: the chronic headache sufferer.

A survey of the psychological characteristics of a large sample of chronic headache cases (n = 360), including classical and common migraine and tension headache sufferers, was carried out. Comparing groups defined in terms of the chronicity of their headache problems, it was found that those with a longer history of headache had a higher level of behavioural disruption and a stronger bond between pain experience, and both complaint levels and behavioural avoidance patterns. Despite the common somatic components (sleep disturbance, fatigue, irritability, etc.), depression was not found to be elevated in this chronic pain group. In addition, there was no evidence of depression levels being higher in the populations who had had a longer history of headache problems. Higher levels of complaint were found in those with higher depression and higher extroversion and neuroticism scores. Behavioural avoidance was significantly related to the emotional reaction component of pain. The implications of these findings with respect to the development of chronic headache are discussed.