The Prevalence of Headache and Associated Psychosocial Factors in an Urban Biracial Sample of Older Adults

Cohen, Carl I.; Henry, Katherine

doi:10.2190/pm.41.4.c

Cited by 8 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…The cerebral infections by the flat worms Spirometra mansoni and Paragonimus westermani have nonspecific signs and symptoms such as headaches and seizures [63]. Coincidentally, headache status at baseline was found to be positively associated with frequent religious attendance (but not attendance of other social events) in one study [64], consistent with previous findings [65]. …”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 79%

Midichlorians - the biomeme hypothesis: is there a microbial component to religious rituals?

2014

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BackgroundCutting edge research of human microbiome diversity has led to the development of the microbiome-gut-brain axis concept, based on the idea that gut microbes may have an impact on the behavior of their human hosts. Many examples of behavior-altering parasites are known to affect members of the animal kingdom. Some prominent examples include Ophiocordyceps unilateralis (fungi), Toxoplasma gondii (protista), Wolbachia (bacteria), Glyptapanteles sp. (arthropoda), Spinochordodes tellinii (nematomorpha) and Dicrocoelium dendriticum (flat worm). These organisms belong to a very diverse set of taxonomic groups suggesting that the phenomena of parasitic host control might be more common in nature than currently established and possibly overlooked in humans.Presentation of the hypothesisSome microorganisms would gain an evolutionary advantage by encouraging human hosts to perform certain rituals that favor microbial transmission. We hypothesize that certain aspects of religious behavior observed in the human society could be influenced by microbial host control and that the transmission of some religious rituals could be regarded as the simultaneous transmission of both ideas (memes) and parasitic organisms.Testing the hypothesisWe predict that next-generation microbiome sequencing of samples obtained from gut or brain tissues of control subjects and subjects with a history of voluntary active participation in certain religious rituals that promote microbial transmission will lead to the discovery of microbes, whose presence has a consistent and positive association with religious behavior. Our hypothesis also predicts a decline of participation in religious rituals in societies with improved sanitation.Implications of the hypothesisIf proven true, our hypothesis may provide insights on the origin and pervasiveness of certain religious practices and provide an alternative explanation for recently published positive associations between parasite-stress and religiosity. The discovery of novel microorganisms that affect host behavior may improve our understanding of neurobiology and neurochemistry, while the diversity of such organisms may be of interest to evolutionary biologists and religious scholars.ReviewersThis article was reviewed by Prof. Dan Graur, Dr. Rob Knight and Dr. Eugene Koonin

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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 79%

Midichlorians - the biomeme hypothesis: is there a microbial component to religious rituals?

2014

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“…Headache sufferers have a smaller network of close confidantes (43) or close social contacts (44,45), and those with few friends tend to have more severe symptoms (46).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Poor social support and loneliness in chronic headache: Prevalence and effect modifiers

et al. 2021

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Objective To explore the prevalence of poor social support and loneliness among people with chronic headache, and how these might be effect modifiers in the relationships between chronic headache and stress, medication overuse, and self-rated health. Background Poor social support and loneliness are consistently linked to worse health outcomes. There are few epidemiologic studies on their effect on headache. Methods The Danish Capital Region Health Survey, a cross-sectional survey, was conducted in 2017. Participants were asked about headache, pain medication use, social support, loneliness, perceived stress, and self-rated health. Data were accessed from sociodemographic registers. Logistic regression analyses were performed to test for effect modification. Results The response rate was 52.6% (55,185 respondents) and was representative of the target population. People with chronic headache were more likely to report poor social support and loneliness compared to those without chronic headache ( p < 0.0001 for both). Odds ratios for the combination of chronic headache and poor social support were very high for stress (odds ratio 8.1), medication overuse (odds ratio 21.9), and poor self-rated health (odds ratio 10.2) compared to those without chronic headache and with good social support. Those who reported both chronic headache and loneliness had a very high odds ratio for stress (odds ratio 14.4), medication overuse (odds ratio 20.1), and poor self-rated health (odds ratio 15.9) compared to those without chronic headache and low loneliness score. When adjusted for sociodemographic factors, poor social support and loneliness were not significant effect modifiers in almost all these associations. Loneliness was a significant effect modifier in the association between chronic headache and medication overuse, but exerted greater effect among those who did not report they were lonely. Conclusion Poor social support and loneliness were prevalent among people with chronic headache. The combination of chronic headache and poor social support or loneliness showed higher odds ratios for stress, medication overuse, and poor self-rated health compared to those with good social support and low loneliness scores. The effect of loneliness in the relationship between chronic headache and medication overuse warrants further study.

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“…These findings are consistent with current research which suggests that loneliness impairs self-management ability. 9,11,12 Self-management includes tasks such as medical and emotional management, as well as deploying skills such as problem solving, decision making, resource utilization, goal setting, and self-tailoring, and accessing the relationship with their provider. 24 Self-efficacy and self-management ability have been shown to be associated with improved health outcomes and health-promoting lifestyles.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…6,7 The WHO lists a social support network as a “determinant of health.” 8 Among patients with migraine, specifically, the prevalence of headaches increases in people with fewer confidants and intimate relationships. 9 Migraines have been associated with poor social functioning. 10 Previous studies in patients with chronic migraine and other neurological disorders have identified self-efficacy, a subjective estimation of a patient’s overall well-being, and perceived social support as part of the successful management of migraine symptoms and improved quality of life.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Loneliness and Migraine Self-Management: A Cross-Sectional Assessment

Lui

Young

Ebbert

et al. 2020

J Prim Care Community Health

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Background: Chronic illness is often comorbid with the psychological state of loneliness. Models of care for patients who experience chronic migraines may often lack an understanding of psychosocial influences of the illness. Addressing the effects of loneliness on the health behaviors of chronic migraine patients may further elucidate gaps in care that exist beyond the biomedical approach to migraine treatment. The primary aim of this study was to assess the relationship between loneliness and behavioral health decisions in chronic migraine patients, specifically patient ability to self-manage, and effectiveness of treatments. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey among patients (n = 500) with migraine and assessed for the experience of loneliness by using the University of California, Los Angeles–Revised (UCLA-R) Three-item Loneliness Scale and the extent of migraine-related disability via the Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS). Furthermore, we evaluated patients for their ability to self-manage their migraines, and perceived effectiveness of treatment. Results: Nearly half of our population reported at least one measure of loneliness (230/500, 46.0%). Patients experiencing chronic migraine were statistically more likely to report feeling lonely when compared to patients with episodic migraines ( P < .001). Patients who report loneliness had lower odds of feeling ’very satisfied” with their ability to self-manage their migraine symptoms (aOR = 0.34, 95% CI 0.14-0.81) and had lower odds of feeling “very satisfied” with their ability to avoid conditions that cause their headache (aOR = 0.39, 95% CI 0.16-0.91). Conclusions: Loneliness has significant effects on the illness experience of patients with chronic migraines, including their ability to self-manage or be satisfied with their current state of care. Psychosocial models of care that address loneliness among patients with chronic migraine may help improve health outcomes and management.

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The Prevalence of Headache and Associated Psychosocial Factors in an Urban Biracial Sample of Older Adults

Cited by 8 publications

References 35 publications

Midichlorians - the biomeme hypothesis: is there a microbial component to religious rituals?

Midichlorians - the biomeme hypothesis: is there a microbial component to religious rituals?

Poor social support and loneliness in chronic headache: Prevalence and effect modifiers

Loneliness and Migraine Self-Management: A Cross-Sectional Assessment

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