Headache Classification and Factor Analysis with a Pediatric Population

Abstract

SYNOPSISThe “Headache Symptom Questionnaire‐Revised” was administered to 68 pediatric headache sufferers and their parents. The questionnaire as a brief assessment tool can accurately classify 66.2% of the child headache sufferers. This classification accuracy was found to be equivalent to the 67.2% diagnostic agreement between experienced diagnosticians utilizing clinical interviews. Factor analysis of the questionnaire revealed four factors‐one being related to muscle contraction headaches, two factors being of a vascular nature, and the fourth factor related to both migraine and muscle contraction headache. This investigation, which utilized a population whose headaches are thought to be in a more “pure” state, continues to lend support to traditional notions of headache etiology and diagnosis.