Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Epidemiology of Tension-type Headache

  • Published:
Current Pain and Headache Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Tension-type headache (TTH) is the most prevalent type of headache across all age groups worldwide. TTH is common, disabling, and associated with medical and psychiatric comorbidities. This review will focus on the epidemiologies of episodic and chronic TTH in various age groups, factors associated with progression and remission, comorbidities, and the burden of TTH.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

  1. Headache Classification Subcommittee of the International Headache Society: The International Classification of Headache Disorders: 2nd edition. Cephalalgia 2004, 24(Suppl 1):9–160.

    Google Scholar 

  2. • Bendtsen L, Jensen R: Tension-type headache: the most common, but also the most neglected, headache disorder. Curr Opin Neurol 2006, 19:305–309. This article is an excellent review of TTH.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Jensen R: Diagnosis, epidemiology, and impact of tension-type headache. Curr Pain Headache Rep 2003, 7:455–459.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Rasmussen BK, Jensen R, Schroll M, Olesen J: Epidemiology of headache in a general population: a prevalence study. J Clin Epidemiol 1991, 44:1147–1157.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Göbel H, Petersen-Braun M, Soyka D: The epidemiology of headache in Germany: a nationwide survey of a representative sample on the basis of the headache classification of the International Headache Society. Cephalalgia 1991, 14:97–106.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Schwartz BS, Stewart WF, Simon D, Lipton RB: Epidemiology of tension-type headache. JAMA 1998, 279:381–383.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Schwaiger J, Kiechl S, Seppi K, et al.: Prevalence of primary headaches and cranial neuralgias in men and women aged 55-94 years (Bruneck Study). Cephalalgia 2009, 29:179–187.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Solomon GD, Kunkel RS, Frame J: Demographics of headache in elderly patients. Headache 1990, 30:273–276.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Lavados PM, Tenhamm E: Epidemiology of tension-type headache in Santiago, Chile: a prevalence study. Cephalalgia 1998, 18:552–558.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. •• Stovner LJ, Hagen K, Jensen R et al.: The global burden of headache: a documentation of headache prevalence and disability worldwide. Cephalalgia 2007, 27:193–210. This is an important review of studies documenting headache burden around the globe.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Lyngberg AC, Rasmussen BK, Jørgensen T, Jensen R: Incidence of primary headache: a Danish epidemiologic follow-up study. Am J Epidemiol 2005, 161:1066–1073.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Scher AI, Stewart WF, Liberman J, Lipton RB: Prevalence of frequent headache in a population sample. Headache 1998, 38:497–506.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Castillo J, Muñoz P, Guitera V, Pascual J: Kaplan Award 1998. Epidemiology of chronic daily headache in the general population. Headache 1999, 39:190–196.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Wang SJ, Fuh JL, Lu SR, et al.: Chronic daily headache in Chinese elderly: prevalence, risk factors, and biannual follow-up. Neurology 2000, 54:314–319.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Lu SR, Fuh JL, Chen WT, et al.: Chronic daily headache in Taipei, Taiwan: prevalence, follow-up and outcome predictors. Cephalalgia 2001, 21:980–986.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Prencipe M, Casini AR, Ferretti C, et al.: Prevalence of headache in an elderly population: attack frequency, disability, and use of medication. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2001, 70:377–381.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Crystal SC, Grosberg BM: Tension-type headache in the elderly. Curr Pain Headache Rep 2009, 13:474–478.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Benseñor IM, Lotufo PA, Goulart AC, et al.: The prevalence of headache among elderly in a low-income area of São Paulo, Brazil. Cephalalgia 2008, 28:329–333.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Pascual J, Berciano J: Experience in the diagnosis of headaches that start in elderly people. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 1994, 57:1255–1257.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Camarda R, Monastero R: Prevalence of primary headaches in Italian elderly: preliminary data from the Zabút Aging Project. Neurol Sci 2003, 24(Suppl 2):S122–S124.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Anttila P, Metsähonkala L, Aromaa M, et al.: Determinants of tension-type headache in children. Cephalalgia 2002, 22:401–408.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Ozge A, Bŭgdayci R, Saşmaz T, et al.: The sensitivity and specificity of the case definition criteria in diagnosis of headache: a school-based epidemiological study of 5562 children in Mersin. Cephalalgia 2003, 23:138–145.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Laurell K, Larsson B, Eeg-Olofsson O: Prevalence of headache in Swedish schoolchildren, with a focus on tension-type headache. Cephalalgia 2004, 24:380–388.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. • Anttila P: Tension-type headache in childhood and adolescence. Lancet Neurol 2006, 5:268–274. This is a comprehensive review of tension-type headache in children.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. •• da Silva Jr A, Costa EC, Gomes JB, et al.: Chronic headache and comorbibities: a two-phase, population-based, cross-sectional study. Headache 2010 Feb 12 (Epub ahead of print). This is a population-based study of temporomandibular disorders and psychiatric comorbidities.

  26. Abu-Arefeh I, Russell G: Prevalence of headache and migraine in schoolchildren. BMJ 1994, 309:765–769.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Abu-Arafeh I: Chronic tension-type headache in children and adolescents. Cephalalgia 2001, 21: 830–836.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Scher AI, Stewart WF, Ricci JA, Lipton RB: Factors associated with the onset and remission of chronic daily headache in a population-based study. Pain 2003, 106:81–89.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Mørk H, Jensen R: Prognosis of tension-type headache: a 10-year follow-up study of patients with frequent tension-type headache [abstract]. Cephalalgia 2000, 20:434.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Hagen K, Vatten L, Stovner LJ, et al.: Low socio-economic status is associated with increased risk of frequent headache: a prospective study of 22718 adults in Norway. Cephalalgia 2002, 22:672–679.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Karwautz A, Wöber C, Lang T, et al.: Psychosocial factors in children and adolescents with migraine and tension-type headache: a controlled study and review of the literature. Cephalalgia 1999, 19:32–43.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Anttila P, Sourander A, Metsähonkala L, et al.: Psychiatric symptoms in children with primary headache. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2004, 43:412–419.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Gonçalves DA, Bigal ME, Jales LC, et al.: Headache and symptoms of temporomandibular disorder: an epidemiological study. Headache 2010, 50:231–241.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Ciancaglini R, Radaelli G: The relationship between headache and symptoms of temporomandibular disorder in the general population. J Dent 2001, 29:93–98.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Chen Y: Advances in the pathophysiology of tension-type headache: from stress to central sensitization. Curr Pain Headache Rep 2009, 13:484–494.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Wang SJ, Juang KD: Psychiatric comorbidity of chronic daily headache: impact, treatment, outcome, and future studies. Curr Pain Headache Rep 2002, 6:505–510.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Mitsikostas DD, Thomas AM: Comorbidity of headache and depressive disorders. Cephalalgia 1999, 19:211–217.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Puca F, Genco S, Prudenzano MP, et al.: Psychiatric comorbidity and psychosocial stress in patients with tension-type headache from headache centers in Italy. The Italian Collaborative Group for the Study of Psychopathological Factors in Primary Headaches. Cephalalgia 1999, 19:159–164.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Holroyd KA, Stensland M, Lipchik GL, et al.: Psychosocial correlates and impact of chronic tension-type headaches. Headache 2000, 40:3–16.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Juang KD, Wang SJ, Fuh JL, et al.: Comorbidity of depressive and anxiety disorders in chronic daily headache and its subtypes. Headache 2000, 40:818–823.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Cassidy EM, Tomkins E, Hardiman O, O’Keane V: Factors associated with burden of primary headache in a specialty clinic. Headache 2003, 43:638–644.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Marcus DA: Identification of patients with headache at risk of psychological distress. Headache 2000, 40:373–376.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Mongini F, Rota E, Deregibus A, et al.: Accompanying symptoms and psychiatric comorbidity in migraine and tension-type headache patients. J Psychosom Res 2006, 61:447–451.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Breslau N, Schultz LR, Stewart WF, et al.: Headache and major depression: is the association specific to migraine? Neurology 2000, 54:308–313.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Guidetti V, Galli F: Psychiatric comorbidity in chronic daily headache: pathophysiology, etiology, and diagnosis. Curr Pain Headache Rep 2002, 6:492–497.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Jensen R, Stovner LJ: Epidemiology and comorbidity of headache. Lancet Neurol 2008, 7:354–361.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Rasmussen BK, Jensen R, Olesen J: Impact of headache on sickness absence and utilisation of medical services: a Danish population study. J Epidemiol Community Health 1992, 46:443–446.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Schwartz BS, Stewart WF, Lipton RB: Lost workdays and decreased work effectiveness associated with headache in the workplace. J Occup Environ Med 1997, 39:320–327.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Bigal ME, Bigal JM, Betti M, et al.: Evaluation of the impact of migraine and episodic tension-type headache on the quality of life and performance of a university student population. Headache 2001, 41:710–719.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Fuh JL, Wang SJ, Lu SR, et al.: A 13-year long-term outcome of elderly with chronic daily headache. Cephalalgia 2008, 28: 1017–1022.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Lyngberg AC, Rasmussen BK, Jørgensen T, Jensen R: Prognosis of migraine and tension-type headache. Neurology 2005, 65:580–585.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Disclosures

No potential conflicts of interest relevant to this article were reported.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sara C. Crystal.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Crystal, S.C., Robbins, M.S. Epidemiology of Tension-type Headache. Curr Pain Headache Rep 14, 449–454 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-010-0146-2

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-010-0146-2

Keywords

Navigation