Studies in well-defined populations are useful in identifying factors that influence frequency and severity of headache and in understanding its impact on people. The aims of this study were to determine the frequency of headache in the medical students of Santa Catarina's Federal University, examine associated factors, verify the diagnostic impressions of the different types of headache, and describe the self-medication level. This study included 408 medical students who were interviewed by a questionnaire from October 1997 to August 1998. The frequency of headache in this group was 33%, with women and students in the five last semesters of the medical course experiencing increased headache frequency. The diagnostic impressions of the different types of headache were migraine without aura (31.3%), migraine with aura (8.2%), episodic tension-type headache (32.1%), chronic tension-type headache (7.5%), and tension-type headache combined with migraine without aura (3%). Self-medication was reported by 51.8% of the medical students with headache; 34.4% used prescribed medications. The most common self-help techniques used by students during a headache were to lie down or isolate themselves from their surroundings.

The cardiac risk indices currently used did not show a better accuracy than that obtained randomly. None of the indices proved to be significantly better than the others. Studies to improve our ability to predict such complications are still required.

RESUMO -Os autores estudaram 19 pacientes com parkinsonismo induzido pela flunarizina.A retirada da medicação levou ao desaparecimento dos sinais e sintomas em todos os casos em período de tempo que variou de 7 dias a 10 meses.Depressão foi observada em 68,5% da amostra. Parkinsonism induced by flunarizine.SUMMARY -The authors studied 19 patients with parkinsonism induced by flunarizine.All them improved when the drug therapy was discontinued for periods from 7 days to 10 months. Depression was observed in 68.5% of the patients.