A Computerized Behavioral Assessment for Children With Headaches

Abstract

SYNOPSIS We have developed a computerized interview program suitable for school‐age children with headaches. Behavioral assessment questions have been included. Between 18 and 39% of children and teenagers acknowledge that something happens to influence their headache either the day before, or the day of the headache. Some of the more frequent antecedents included “an especially hard day at work/school/home,” skipping a meal, worrying a lot, and unexpected excitement or pressure. The older the child or adolescent, the more likely he/she acknowledged that an “unpleasant emotional situation” preceded the headache. Chocolate was the only food or beverage identified as a headache antecedent. Heat and sun glare were reported most frequently as weather concomitants of headache. Approximately 30% of the children and teenagers were concerned about headaches interfering with their activities, and between 22 and 46% wanted to control their headaches without medications. Our experience indicates that children who read can complete a computer‐based interview containing behavioral assessment questions, and that an appreciable number of children brought to medical attention for their headaches are receptive to behavioral therapies.

Prevalence of Headache and Migraine in Schoolchildren in the United Arab Emirates

“…Our results are consistent with others which suggest that family conflict, emotional factors and educational pressures are important in determining the prevalence of headaches. [25][26][27] It was interesting to note that the prevalence of headache among children living only with their mothers was 64.7%, compared to 57% in those living with intact families.…”

The Children's Headache Assessment Scale (CHAS): Factor structure and psychometric properties

“…The present investigation adds to a small body of research on the measurement of environmental events associated with pediatric headache (Budd and Kedesdy, 1989;Labbe et al, 1985;Leviton et al, 1984;Mindell et al, 1986). Except for the earlier CHAS version (Budd and Kedesdy, 1989), which organized items conceptually into categories according to their potential functional role in headache, the assessment instruments used in these experiments contain no provisions for interpreting the pattern of environmental variables related to an individual child's headache.…”

“…The initial, 30-item questionnaire (Budd and Kedesdy, 1989) was developed from a review of the assessment and treatment literature in pediatric headache Bille, 1962;Hoelscher and Lichstein, 1984;Labbe et al, 1985;Leviton et al, 1984;Masek et al, 1984), together with the investigators' clinical experience and consultation with professional colleagues. This item pool was then augmented with eight items based on parents' comments and analysis of subject responses in the initial study.…”

“…However, a few studies have examined environmental variables in a more systematic manner. Leviton et al (1984) reported descriptive frequencies of specific headache precipitants based on computer-based interviews of children and adolescents. Labbe et al (1985) investigated the concordance between parent and child reports of situational variables by including 10 items regarding antecedents and consequences of headache in an intake questionnaire.…”

Computers in clinical practice: applying experience from child psychiatry

“…Computerised assessments of self reported self concept,5 behaviour,6 and personality7 and a depression screening instrument8 for children have been validated against paper versions. Not all computerised tests have written equivalents: one has been developed to assist the assessment of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse 9.…”