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.