Quality of life impairments are greater in chronic daily headache (CDH) than in episodic headache conditions like migraine. This qualitative interview study aimed to identify psychological processes associated with quality of life impairments among individuals meeting diagnostic criteria for CDH. Grounded theory analysis showed that perceived loss of control was the central experience mediating the impact of CDH on quality of life. The results provide explanations for previous quantitative findings about quality of life impairments in CDH, and could inform interventions to reduce the impact of CDH. Further research could also examine the roles played by perceived control in the onset and development of CDH, including possible links with pre-emptive analgesic use.
Aronoff, G. M. , Markey, J. W. , & Simpson, B. (1997). Psychiatric and behavioural aspects of headache . Current Review of Pain, 1, 165-171 .
2.
Barlow, J. H. , Williams, B. , & Wright, C. C. (1999). ‘Instilling the strength to fight the pain and get on with life’: Learning to become an arthritis self-manager through an adult education programme . Health Education Research, 14, 533-544 .
3.
Barofsky, I. (2003). Cognitive approaches to summary measurement: Its application to the measurement of diversity in health-related quality of life assessments . Quality of Life Research, 12, 251-260 .
4.
Burton, H. J. , Kline, S. , Hargadon, R. , Shick, R. , Ong, M. , & Cooper, B. (1998). Chronic pain patients’ quality of life improves with increased life control . The Pain Clinic, 11, 33-42 .
5.
Castillo, J. , Munoz, P. , Guitera, V. , & Pascual, J. (1999). Epidemiology of chronic daily headache in the general population . Headache, 39, 190-196 .
6.
Cavallini, A. , Micieli, G. , Bussone, G. , Rossi, F. , & Nappi, G. (1995). Headache and quality of life . Headache, 35, 29-35 .
7.
Chamberlain, K. (1999). Using grounded theory in health psychology. In S. Murray & K. Chamberlain (Eds.), Qualitative health psychology: Theory and methods (pp. 183-201). London: Sage Publications .
8.
Culos-Reed, S. N. , & Brawley, L. R. (2000). Fibromyalgia, physical activity, and daily functioning: The importance of efficacy and health-related quality of life . Arthritis Care and Research, 13, 343-351 .
9.
Elander, J. , Lusher, J. , Bevan, D. , & Telfer, P. (2003). Pain management and symptoms of substance dependence among patients with sickle cell disease . Social Science and Medicine, 57, 1683-1696 .
10.
Elander, J. , Lusher, J. , Bevan, D. , Telfer, P. , & Burton, B. (2004). Understanding the causes of problematic pain management in sickle cell disease: Evidence that pseudoaddiction plays a more important role than genuine analgesic dependence . Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 27, 156-169 .
11.
Grant, L. D. , Long, B. C. , & Willms, J. D. (2002). Women’s adaptation to chronic back pain: Daily appraisals and coping strategies, personal characteristics and perceived spousal responses . Journal of Health Psychology, 7, 545-563 .
12.
Grbich, C. (1999). Qualitative research in health: An introduction. London: Sage Publications .
13.
Guitera, V. , Munoz, P. , Castillo, J. , & Pascual, J. (2002). Quality of life in chronic daily headache—a study in a general population . Neurology, 58, 1062-1065 .
14.
Hagen, K. , Zwart, J. A. , Vatten, L. , Stovner, L. J. , & Bovin, G. (2000). Prevalence of migraine and nonmigrainous headache: Head-HUNT, a large population-based study . Cephalagia, 20, 900-906 .
15.
Hunfeld, J. A. M. , Passchier, J. , Perquin, C. W. , Hazebroek-Kampschreur, A. A. J. M. , van Suijlekom-Smit, L. W. A. , & van der Wouden, J. C. (2001). Quality of life in adolescents with chronic pain in the head or at other locations . Cephalalgia, 21, 201-206 .
16.
Hursey, K. G. , & Jacks, S. D. (1992). Fear of pain in recurrent headache sufferers . Headache, 32, 283-286 .
17.
Jensen, M. P. , Turner, J. A. , & Romano, J. M. (2001). Changes in beliefs, catastrophizing, and coping are associated with improvement in multidisciplinary pain treatment . Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 69, 655-662 .
18.
Konno, S. , Meyer, J. S. , Margishvili, G. M. , Rauch, R. A. , & Haque, A. (1999). Transformed migraine is a cause of chronic daily headaches . Headache, 39, 95-100 .
19.
Lanteri-Minet, M. , Auray, J. P. , El Hasnaoui, A. , Dartigues, J. F. , Duru, G. , Henry, P. , Lucas, P. , Pradalier, A. , Chazot, G. , & Gaudin, A. F. (2003). Prevalence and description of chronic daily headache in the general population in France . Pain, 102, 143-149 .
20.
Mannix, L. K. , & Solomon, G. D. (1998). Quality of life in migraine . Clinical Neuroscience, 5, 38-42 .
21.
Manocchia, M. , Keller, S. , & Ware, J. E. (2001). Sleep problems, health-related quality of life, work functioning and health care utilization among the chronically ill . Quality of Life Research, 10, 331-345 .
22.
Meletiche, D. M. , Lofland, J. H. , & Young, W. B. (2001). Quality of life differences between patients with episodic and transformed migraine . Headache, 41, 573-578 .
23.
Monzon, M. J. , & Lainez, M. J. A. (1998). Quality of life in migraine and chronic daily headache patients . Cephalalgia, 18, 638-643 .
24.
Osborn, M. , & Smith, J. A. (1998). The personal experience of chronic benign lower back pain: An interpretative phenomenological analysis . British Journal of Health Psychology, 3, 65-83 .
25.
Paiva, T. , Martins, P. , Batista, A. , Esperanca, P. , & Martins, I. (1994). Sleep disturbances in chronic headache patients: A comparison with healthy controls . Headache Quarterly, 5, 135-141 .
26.
Pascual, J. , Colas, R. , & Castillo, J. (2001). Epidemiology of chronic daily headache . Current Pain and Headache Reports, 5, 529-536 .
27.
Passchier, J. , de Boo, M. , Quaak, H. Z. A. , & Brienen, J. A. (1996). Health-related quality of life of chronic headache patients is predicted by the emotional component of their pain . Headache, 36, 556-560 .
28.
Peters, M. , Abu-Saad, H. H. , Vydelingum, V. , Dowson, A. , & Murphy, M. (2003). Patients’ decision-making for migraine and chronic daily headache management: A qualitative study . Cephalalgia, 23, 833-841 .
29.
Peters, M. , Abu-Saad, H. H. , Vydelingum, V. , & Murphy, M. (2002). Research into headache: The contribution of qualitative methods . Headache, 42, 1051-1059 .
30.
Ritchie, J. , Lewis, J. , & Elam, G. (2003). Designing and selecting samples. In J. Ritchie & J. Lewis (Eds.), Qualitative research practice: A guide for social science students and researchers (pp. 77-108). London: Sage Publications .
31.
Silberstein, S. D. , Lipton, R. B. , & Sliwinski, M. (1996). Classification of daily and near-daily headaches: Field trial of revised IHS criteria . Neurology, 47, 871-875 .
32.
Silberstein, S. D. , Lipton, R. B. , Solomon, S. , & Mathew, N. T. (1994). Classification of daily and near-daily headaches: Proposed revision to the IHS criteria . Headache, 34, 1-7 .
33.
Smith, R. (1998). Impact of migraine on the family . Headache, 38, 423-426 .
34.
Solomon, G. D. (1997). Evolution of the measurement of quality of life in migraine . Neurology, 48(Suppl. 3), S10-S15 .
35.
Spierings, E. L. H. , Ranke, A. H. , Schroevers, M. , & Honkoop, P. C. (2000). Chronic daily headache: A time perspective . Headache, 40, 306-310 .
36.
Spierings, E. L. H. , & van Hoof, M.-J. (1997). Fatigue and sleep in chronic headache sufferers: An age—and sex—controlled questionnaire study . Headache, 37, 549-552 .
37.
Srikiatkhachorn, A. (2001). Pathophysiology of chronic daily headache . Current Pain and Headache Reports, 5, 537-544 .
38.
Steiner, T. J. , & Fontebasso, M. (2002). Clinical review: Headache . British Medical Journal, 325, 881-886 .
39.
Tan, G. , Jensen, M. P. , Robinson-Whelen, S. , Thornby, J. I. , & Monga, T. (2002). Measuring control appraisals in chronic pain . Journal of Pain, 3, 385-393 .
40.
Verri, A. P. , Proietti Cecchini, A. , Galli, C. , Granella, F. , Sandrini, G. , & Nappi, G. (1998). Psychiatric morbidity in chronic daily headache . Cephalalgia, 18(Suppl. 21), 45-49 .
41.
Wang, S.-J. , Fuh, J.-L. , Lu, S.-R. , & Juang, K.-D. (2001). Quality of life differs among headache diagnoses: Analysis of SF-36 survey in 901 headache patients . Pain, 89, 285-292 .
42.
Wheeler, A. H. (1999). Chronic daily headache: Theory to therapy . Current Review of Pain, 3, 481-488 .
