Prognosis
Episodic tension-type headache
Tension-type headaches (TTHs) are the most common type of headache in the general population. They are most common between the ages of 20 to 39 years and then decline. Self-treatment with simple analgesic medication is usually effective for episodic TTH. Despite the high prevalence of TTH worldwide, its effects on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) have been under-studied and most of the studies have focused on chronic rather than episodic TTH.[3][52] This may be because the pain in episodic TTH is usually infrequent and mild, thus it is less likely to cause significant impairment.
Chronic tension-type headache
Chronic TTH has a major impact on HRQoL, with sufferers experiencing a generalized impairment in functioning (which persists even outside of attacks) compared to healthy controls, and also relative to episodic migraine sufferers on some HRQoL domains.[52] However, compared to migraine sufferers, patients with TTH report fewer missed days at school or work. Anxiety or mood disorders were found to be three to 15 times as frequent in chronic TTH patients as controls. The observed depression was mild to moderate in severity; however, anxiety was sufficiently high to impair functioning.
One systematic review found moderate-quality evidence that depression, anxiety, poor sleep and stress, medication overuse, and poor self-efficacy for managing headaches are potential factors for poor prognosis and unfavorable outcomes from preventive treatment in chronic headache.[53]
Use of this content is subject to our disclaimer