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Pediatric chronic daily headache associated with school phobia
Author(s) -
Fujita Mitsue,
Fujiwara Junko,
Maki Takako,
Shibasaki Kayoko,
Shigeta Midori,
Nii Junko
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
pediatrics international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.49
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1442-200X
pISSN - 1328-8067
DOI - 10.1111/j.1442-200x.2009.02804.x
Subject(s) - medicine , specific phobia , migraine , headaches , anxiety , psychiatry , psychosocial , pediatrics , anxiety disorder , phobic disorder
Background: Children and adolescents with school phobia sometimes complain of severe and persistent headaches that are diagnosed as chronic daily headache (CDH). Methods: We investigated 24 children with CDH and school phobia, and 26 children with CDH but without school phobia. Results: Of 24 children with CDH and school phobia, 4% had chronic migraine (CM), 46% had chronic tension‐type headache (CTTH) and 50% had both CTTH and migraine. However, of 26 children with CDH but without school phobia, 61% had CM, 24% had CTTH, 11% had CTTH and migraine, and 4% had new daily‐persistent headache. There was a significantly higher rate of CTTH and both CTTH and migraine in children with CDH and school phobia than that in children with CDH but without school phobia ( P < 0.0001). All of the 24 children with CDH and school phobia were found to have psychiatric disorders. Of 24 children, 71% were found to have adjustment disorders, 21% were found to have anxiety disorders, and 8% were found to have conversion disorder. Of 26 children with CDH but without school phobia, only 20% were found to have psychiatric disorders. There was a significantly higher rate of psychiatric disorders in children with CDH and school phobia than in children with CDH but without school phobia ( P < 0.0001). Conclusions: Our study indicated that children with CDH and school phobia had problems in school and/or family and psychiatric disorders. They should be diagnosed and treated attentively not only for headaches but also for their psychosocial problems and psychiatric disorders.