DOI 10.4010/2016.

760
ISSN 2321 3361 © 2016 IJESC

Research Article Volume 6 Issue No. 4

Prevalence of Tension Type Headache among Patients of Depressive

Disorder
Dr. Anil Kumar1, Dr. Muhammad Ilyas2, Dr. Chooni Lal3, Dr. Haresh Kumar4, Dr. Suneel Arwani5
Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre Karachi, Pakistan 1, 2, 3
Institute of Psychiatry, Baqai Medical University, Karachi, Pakistan 4
Isra University Hyderabad, Pakistan 5
hareshmakhija@gmail.com4

Abstract
Depressive Disorder and Tension Type of Headache are two common clinical conditions. These two phenomenons frequently co-
occur. This study was intended to see the pervasiveness of Tension Type Headache among patients of Depressive Disorder, so at
whatever point a patient who is seen for wretchedness or Tension Type Headache ought to likewise be searched for other as well.

Patients and Methods: This study was conducted at Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, JPMC, Karachi. 264
patients were enrolled in the study. Adult patients diagnosed with Depressive Disorder were included in the study. All patients with
Depressive Disorder were seen for Tension Type Headache using the diagnostic criteria: International Classification of Headache
Disorders Second Edition (ICHD-2).

Results: A total of 264 patients with mean age of 32.58 + 8.55 were enrolled, 53.4% were females and 46.6% were males, 90% of
these were married. Tension Type Headache was present in 56 (21.2%) cases. Tension Headache was common among married
females and those of having severe Depressive Disorder.

Conclusion: Tension Type Headache is common among depressed individuals, so it should be considered, while searching for
Depressive Disorder or Tension Type Headache the other condition should be recollected.

Key words: Primary Headache, Tension Type Headache, Depressive Disorder.

Introduction disorder, such as depressive disorder. The patient will

Depressive Disorder is a mood disorder, portrayed by low
state of mind, absence of interest and pleasure, diminished
self-regard, gradualness and lessened vitality, disturbed sleep
and appetite, prompting diminished social and world related
working. Life time commonness of Depressive issue is 18 to
22 % and one year rate is 2-5% having more noteworthy
proportion in females than males1 Epidemiological and
clinical studies have demonstrated a relationship between
Tension Type migraines and depression [1]. A tension
headache is generally a diffuse, mild to moderate pain in
head that's often described as feeling like a tight band around
your head. Tension-type headaches account for nearly 90%
of all headaches [2]. Tension headaches affect about
1.4 billion people (20.8% of the population) and are more
common in women than men (23% to 18% respectively) [3].
Tension-type headache pain is often described as a constant
pressure, as if the head were being squeezed in a vise. The
pain is frequently present on both sides of the head at the
same time. Tension-type headache pain is typically mild to
moderate, but may be severe. Chronic Tension-Type (muscle
contraction) headaches may conceal a serious emotional
present with a persistent and vague headache, for which no
organic cause can be determined.
Patients and Methods
This study was conducted at Department of Psychiatry and
Behavioral Sciences, JPMC, Karachi. 264 patients were
enrolled in the study.
Inclusion Criteria
Adult patients diagnosed with Depressive Disorder were
included in the study.
Exclusion Criteria
 Patients who were substance users.
 Depressive Disorder due to another medical
condition or due to any drug patient is taking.
 Patients of Bipolar Depression, Post-Schizophrenic
Depression and Depressive Disorder with Psychotic
features were excluded from study.

International Journal of Engineering Science and Computing, April 2016 3283 http://ijesc.org/
All patients with Depressive Disorder were seen for Tension 4. Shehbaz N, Ali S, Akhtar W, Aziz H. Migraine:
Type Headache using the diagnostic criteria: International comorbidity with depression Pak J Med Sci Mar
Classification of Headache Disorders Second Edition 2007; 23(1):95-9.
(ICHD-2).
5. Sakai F, Igarashi H: Prevalence of migraine in
Results Japan: a nationwide survey. Cephalalgia, 1997,
A total of 264 patients with mean age of 32.58 + 8.55 were 17:15-22.
enrolled, 53.4% were females and 46.6% were males, 90%
of these were married. 6. Arif D, Akbar A, Ali A, Umer L, Bilal A, Jahanzeb
E, Syed Z and Timothy J. The burden of headache
Tension Type Headache was present in 56 (21.2%) cases. disorders in Pakistan: methodology of a population-
Tension Headache was common among married females and based nationwide study, and questionnaire
those of having severe Depressive Disorder. validation. The Journal of Headache and Pain
2013, 14:73
Discussion
The Tension Type Headache, an essential kind of head pain 7. Toshikatsu O, Sachie T, Masumi O, Satoshi T,
is the most predominant headache.2 In this study we have Tsukasa N. Characteristics in patients with
seen the pervasiveness of Tension Type Headache (21.2%) headache in an outpatient clinic in Japan Asia
among patients experiencing Depressive Disorder which is Pacific Family Medicine 2010, 9:10.
verging on same as in study in Japan which was 21.7% [4].
In another overview sort mull over the commonness of
Tension Type Headache was 22.4% [5]. A study directed at
Karachi, Pakistan in 2013 demonstrated steady outcomes of
23.3% [6]. yet in this study we have discovered Tension
Type headache in patients of Depressive Disorder, our
consideration criteria was very strict when contrasted with
past review sort study. In a study completed in Japan
demonstrated the rate of Tension-Type Headache 30.8%
which was higher when contrasted with our study, this
distinction is on the grounds that they searched out just
essential headache among patients reporting for any kind of
conference and we chose patients having depressive disorder
only [7].

References:
1. Gelder M, Paul H, Cowen P. Mood disorders.
Shorter Oxford text book of psychiatry. 5thed.
New York; Oxford University Press 2006; 218-22.

2. SC, Lewis EL. eds. Evaluation & Management of

Headache. In: South-Paul JE, Matheny CURRENT
Diagnosis & Treatment in Family Medicine, New
York, NY 2011: McGraw-Hill.

3. Pringsheim T, Davenport W, Mackie G, "Canadian

Headache Society Guideline for migraine
prophylaxis". Can J Neurol Sci, 2012, 39
(22):51–59.

International Journal of Engineering Science and Computing, April 2016 3284 http://ijesc.org/