Pain sensitivity mediates the relationship between stress and headache intensity in chronic tension-type headache

Title
Pain sensitivity mediates the relationship between stress and headache intensity in chronic tension-type headache
Publication Date
2012
Author(s)
Cathcart, Stuart
Bhullar, Navjot
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1616-6094
Email: nbhulla2@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:nbhulla2
Immink, Maarten
Della Vedova, Chris
Hayball, John
Type of document
Journal Article
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
Pulsus Group Inc
Place of publication
Canada
UNE publication id
une:12528
Abstract
BACKGROUND: A central model for chronic tension-type headache (CTH) posits that stress contributes to headache, in part, by aggravating existing hyperalgesia in CTH sufferers. The prediction from this model that pain sensitivity mediates the relationship between stress and headache activity has not yet been examined. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether pain sensitivity mediates the relationship between stress and prospective headache activity in CTH sufferers. METHOD: Self-reported stress, pain sensitivity and prospective headache activity were measured in 53 CTH sufferers recruited from the general population. Pain sensitivity was modelled as a mediator between stress and headache activity, and tested using a nonparametric bootstrap analysis. RESULTS: Pain sensitivity significantly mediated the relationship between stress and headache intensity. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study support the central model for CTH, which posits that stress contributes to headache, in part, by aggravating existing hyperalgesia in CTH sufferers. Implications for the mechanisms and treatment of CTH are discussed.
Link
Citation
Pain Research & Management, 17(6), p. 377-380
ISSN
1918-1523
1203-6765
Start page
377
End page
380

Files:

NameSizeformatDescriptionLink