Stress, Coping, and Personality in Patients with Epicrania Fugax, and Their Relation to the Clinical Characteristics of Pain

Looking at the Mental Health of Children and Adolescents with Cleft Lip and/or Palate through Neuroticism and Emotional Regulation Strategies: A Case-Controlled Observational Study

Background: Children and adolescents with cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) are at an increased risk of developing emotional disorders. This study aims to explore this question in greater depth by addressing three objectives: (1) the presence of neuroticism as an indicator of emotional symptomatology, (2) the use of adaptive and non-adaptive emotional regulation strategies, and (3) the relationship between these strategies and neuroticism. Methods: A case-control correlational methodology was employed, with 60 children and adolescents with CL/P (mean age = 12.80 years; 33 females) and 60 non-clinical equivalent children and adolescents. Results: The CL/P group has higher scores on neuroticism (t = -7.74; p ≤ 0.001, d Cohen = 1.43) and lower scores in almost all emotional regulation strategies. The presence of CL/P moderated the relationship between neuroticism and self-blame (Beta = -0.46, t = -2.81, p = 0.005), rumination (Beta = -0.49, t = -3.73, p < 0.001), catastrophizing (Beta = -0.61, t = -4.26, p < 0.001), and blaming others (Beta = -0.45, t = -2.84, p = 0.005). This model predicted a significant variance of neuroticism (all p < 0.005), which ranged from 39% to 41%. Conclusions: The CL/P group has worse mental health indicators. Particularly novel results about the CL/P group are the lower scores on regulation strategies (both adaptive and non-adaptive) and the fact that non-adaptive strategies contribute, contrary to their effect in the general population, to a decrease in neuroticism. It supports the need to incorporate mental health indicators in the diagnosis and treatment of children and adolescents with CL/P.

Epicranial headaches part 2: Nummular headache and epicrania fugax

BACKGROUND

Nummular headache and epicrania fugax are two primary headaches that fall under the heading of epicranial headaches.

METHODS

This article reviews the epidemiological and clinical features of nummular headache and epicrania fugax, proposed pathogenic mechanisms and state-of-the-art management, according to the literature.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

Nummular headache and epicrania fugax are generally viewed as rare headache disorders, but no population-based epidemiological data are available. Nummular headache is characterized by continuous or intermittent head pain, which remains circumscribed in a round or oval area of the scalp, typically one to six centimeters in diameter. Epicrania fugax manifests with brief paroxysms of pain that move along the surface of the head, following a linear or zigzag trajectory through different nerve territories. Nummular headache and epicrania fugax are mostly primary headaches, but some secondary cases have been reported. The pathogenesis of these headaches is not fully understood. Nummular headache could probably originate in epicranial tissues or adjacent intracranial structures, while the origin of epicrania fugax could be extracranial or intracranial. Diagnostic assessment requires careful examination of the symptomatic areas. Underlying disorders should be excluded by additional investigations, including neuroimaging and appropriate blood tests. No controlled clinical trials have been conducted in nummular headache or epicrania fugax. Analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs, botulinum toxin and gabapentin are currently the most recommended treatment options for nummular headache. In epicrania fugax, the most used treatments are gabapentin, lamotrigine, and other antiseizure medications.

Personality construct as a biomarker in fibromyalgia: A narrative review from an autonomic rehabilitation perspective

BACKGROUND

The heterogeneity of symptoms and ineffective treatment raise questions about the current diagnostic criteria of fibromyalgia (FM). Misdiagnosis of FM often leads to less than efficacious treatment and poor quality of life.

OBJECTIVE

This article reviews relevant evidence-based literature on personality traits in FM patients with an autonomic dysfunction perspective based on a hierarchical model to explain the utility of considering the personality trait in FM diagnosis.

METHODS

A narrative review of articles concerning chronic pain, FM, and personality traits with respect to autonomic dysfunction in FM was conducted after extensive relevant literature searches.

RESULTS

Reports discussing the predisposing factors, including coping styles, anger, suicide risk, a lack of physical activity and social support, in maintaining persistent pain in FM exist. Relationships between pain duration and severity and personality traits like neuroticism and extraversion have been reported. Coexisting clinical manifestations of FM like sleep disorders, anxiety, and intestinal irritability indicate autonomic dysfunction.

CONCLUSIONS

This article lays out a constructive framework for individualized and personalized medicine for the effective rehabilitation of FM patients. The quest to find a definitive diagnosis of FM should include personality biomarkers that might translate into personalized medicine. An individualistic approach may bank upon artificial intelligence algorithms for both diagnostic as well as prognostic purposes in FM.

Clinical Features and Psychiatric Comorbidity of Epicrania Fugax

Background:

Epicrania fugax (EF) is a rare newly described primary headache characterized by paroxysms of unilateral pain radiating across one hemicranium.

Aim:

We aimed to describe 10 new cases of EF and assess the psychiatric comorbidity.

Materials and Methods:

Cases of EF were identified from patients attending the neurology outpatient department of a tertiary level referral and teaching hospital by the first author during a period extending from January 1, 2015 to April 31, 2017. Case ascertainment was done as per ICHD 3 beta criteria from among patients presenting with complaints of headache after detailed history and clinical examination. Clinical and demographic features were noted and patients were subjected to Mini Neuropsychiatric Interview to screen for psychiatric comorbidity followed by Becks Anxiety/Depression Inventory.

Results:

A total of 10 subjects were obtained during the study period, 4 males, and 6 females. Mean age of subjects was 45.3 years (standard deviation-10). Seventy percent had anteroposterior, and 30% had posteroanterior radiation of pain. The most common character of pain was stabbing (50%) followed by electrical (40%) and pressing (10%). None of the subjects had autonomic symptoms or focal symptoms in the scalp while 30% subjects had hyperesthesia in the affected area of the scalp. Six subjects (60%) patients had episodic course while 40% had chronic course. Sixty percent had comorbid anxiety while one (10%) had comorbid depression. A significant relation was obtained between duration of disease and occurrence of anxiety as well as Becks Anxiety Inventory scores while there was no correlation with attack duration. There was also a nonsignificant correlation between visual analog score and occurrence of anxiety symptoms.

Conclusions:

Our study conclusively proves the existence of EF as a rare, distinct primary headache syndrome in our study population. It has a significant psychiatric comorbidity consisting of 60% of generalized anxiety disorder, 10% of panic attacks, and 10% of depression.