Headache Intensity and Quality of Life in Adolescents. How are Changes in Headache Intensity in Adolescents Related to Changes in Experienced Quality of Life?

Objective.‐To investigate the relationship between changes in actual presence of headache and the experience of different subdomains of quality of life (QoL) in adolescents. Design.‐Diary entered measurements of headache intensity and frequency were related to simultaneously recorded data on a QoL questionnaire for adolescents. Setting.‐Subjects completed both the QoL questionnaires and the headache diaries at home. Subjects.‐Subjects were selected by screening the total population of two secondary schools (N=1566) for headache and migraine symptoms. Sixty‐four students subject to chronic headache or migraine participated in the study. All subjects were diagnosed by a neurologist, following the IHS criteria for migraine. Conclusion.‐Changes in headache intensity and frequency were related to changes in self‐reported QoL within all QoL subdomains. More headache coincided with a lower self‐reported QoL.