Cincinnati Children's Webmaster
July 15th 03, 09:24 PM
http://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/about/news/release/2003/7-headaches.htm
July 7, 2003:
Headaches Devastating to Children's Quality of Life According to New
Cincinnati Children's Study
CINCINNATI -- The quality of life of children with headaches is
comparable to that of children with such serious conditions as cancer
and rheumatic diseases, according to a new study by researchers at
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.
In fact, the study shows that children with headaches appear to be
more affected in emotional functioning and school performance than
children with other serious, chronic medical conditions, according to
lead author Scott W. Powers, PhD, co-director of the Headache Center
at Cincinnati Children's -- one of the largest pediatric headache
centers in the world.
"Headaches are a common problem found in about one of every 10
children and four adolescents," says Dr. Powers, who is also a
pediatric psychologist at Cincinnati Children's. "The fact that the
impact of these headaches is at least equal to that of childhood
illnesses often considered more severe and debilitating suggests that
pediatricians and other caregivers should place more emphasis on their
recognition, diagnosis and effective treatment."
In the study, published in the July 2003 issue of Pediatrics, the
researchers surveyed 572 children and adolescents who receive care at
the Cincinnati Children's Headache Center. Ninety-nine percent had a
diagnosis of migraines, and forty percent had chronic daily headaches.
The patients and their parents completed a standardized headache
assessment and a reliable and valid measure of quality of life -- the
PedsQL 4.0™. The results were compared to established norms for
healthy and chronically ill children.
The researchers discovered that quality of life is negatively affected
in all areas of functioning when compared to healthy children,
including school functioning, emotional functioning and physical
health. Children with migraines reported more impairment in school
functioning and emotional functioning than children with other chronic
illnesses.
The Headache Center, a collaboration between the divisions of
Neurology and Psychology at Cincinnati Children's, was established in
the fall of 1996. Andrew D. Hershey, MD, PhD, a pediatric neurologist,
and Dr. Powers lead the program.
The Center's multidisciplinary team has seen more than 1,500 children
with complaints of headaches. Of these, clinically 86 percent have
migraines, 11 percent have migraine with auras and 11 percent have
tension-type headaches. Treatment strategies include abortive therapy
for individual headache episodes, prophylactic therapy for preventing
headache episodes and psychological intervention including
biofeedback-assisted relaxation training, as well as lifestyle
behavior adjustments.
Contact: Jim Feuer, Media Relations, 513-636-4656,
July 7, 2003:
Headaches Devastating to Children's Quality of Life According to New
Cincinnati Children's Study
CINCINNATI -- The quality of life of children with headaches is
comparable to that of children with such serious conditions as cancer
and rheumatic diseases, according to a new study by researchers at
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.
In fact, the study shows that children with headaches appear to be
more affected in emotional functioning and school performance than
children with other serious, chronic medical conditions, according to
lead author Scott W. Powers, PhD, co-director of the Headache Center
at Cincinnati Children's -- one of the largest pediatric headache
centers in the world.
"Headaches are a common problem found in about one of every 10
children and four adolescents," says Dr. Powers, who is also a
pediatric psychologist at Cincinnati Children's. "The fact that the
impact of these headaches is at least equal to that of childhood
illnesses often considered more severe and debilitating suggests that
pediatricians and other caregivers should place more emphasis on their
recognition, diagnosis and effective treatment."
In the study, published in the July 2003 issue of Pediatrics, the
researchers surveyed 572 children and adolescents who receive care at
the Cincinnati Children's Headache Center. Ninety-nine percent had a
diagnosis of migraines, and forty percent had chronic daily headaches.
The patients and their parents completed a standardized headache
assessment and a reliable and valid measure of quality of life -- the
PedsQL 4.0™. The results were compared to established norms for
healthy and chronically ill children.
The researchers discovered that quality of life is negatively affected
in all areas of functioning when compared to healthy children,
including school functioning, emotional functioning and physical
health. Children with migraines reported more impairment in school
functioning and emotional functioning than children with other chronic
illnesses.
The Headache Center, a collaboration between the divisions of
Neurology and Psychology at Cincinnati Children's, was established in
the fall of 1996. Andrew D. Hershey, MD, PhD, a pediatric neurologist,
and Dr. Powers lead the program.
The Center's multidisciplinary team has seen more than 1,500 children
with complaints of headaches. Of these, clinically 86 percent have
migraines, 11 percent have migraine with auras and 11 percent have
tension-type headaches. Treatment strategies include abortive therapy
for individual headache episodes, prophylactic therapy for preventing
headache episodes and psychological intervention including
biofeedback-assisted relaxation training, as well as lifestyle
behavior adjustments.
Contact: Jim Feuer, Media Relations, 513-636-4656,