Attachment Characteristics of Children with Primary Headache and Their Mothers, and Comparison of Psychiatric Comorbidity and Intelligence Levels of the Children

Perihan Çam Ray; Gonca Gül; Sunay Firat; Serhat Nasıroğlu; Faruk Incecik; Ayşegül Yolga Tahiroğlu; Adnan Barutçu

doi:10.17343/sdutfd.1606969

Attachment Characteristics of Children with Primary Headache and Their Mothers, and Comparison of Psychiatric Comorbidity and Intelligence Levels of the Children

Abstract

Objective: This observational study aimed to investigate comorbid psychiatric disorders and patterns of attachment among children and adolescents diagnosed with primary headaches. We also aimed to study the relationship between maternal attachment and headache. Material and Method: The study included 34 patients (50% girls) aged 6-16 years (mean age = 10.8 ± 2.3 years) who were under the care of pediatric clinics, as well as their 34 mothers. Psychiatric disorders were evaluated among the participants using the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children-Present and Lifetime Version, based on the criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV). Diagnosis of primary headaches in accordance with the requirements of the International Classification of Headache Disorders, second edition. The child participants were assessed using the Short Form of the Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment (IPPA) and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children- Revised Intelligence Quotient (WISC-R IQ), and their mothers completed the Experiences in Close Relationships (ECR) Inventory and Symptom Check List-90-Revised (SCL-90-R). Results: The results of the neurological assessments of the children with headache showed that 20 were diagnosed with migraine, 9 were diagnosed with other primary headache, and 5 were diagnosed with tension-type headache. The mean scores of the children were 66.2±11.7 on IPPA (mother), and 62.6±11.7 on IPPA (father), and the mean scores of the mother were 66.1±15.0 on ECR (avoidance), 66.7±16.7 on ECR (anxious). No significant differences were observed in these scales according to headache subtype. According to the results of the psychiatric evaluations, specific learning disability, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder, phobias, and separation anxiety were found the most frequently, and in the comparisons made between the frequencies of mental diagnoses in the children and those in the general population. The children had a mean overall WISC-R IQ score of 96.4 ±15.0, which indicated normal intelligence. There were no significant differences in psychiatric comorbidity rates or WISC-R IQ mean scores according to headache subtype. Conclusion: Children with headaches should be evaluated by a psychiatrist and neurologist and treated accordingly.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Project Number

Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethics Committee of Non-Interventional Research of Çukurova University with the decision dated 30.06.2011 and numbered 10/11.

Ethical Statement

Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethics Committee of Non-Interventional Research of Çukurova University with the decision dated 30.06.2011 and numbered 10/11.

Thanks

None

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Perihan Çam Ray ^*
0000-0002-6254-6055
Türkiye

Gonca Gül
0000-0001-6101-0796
Türkiye

Sunay Firat
0000-0002-9960-0836
Türkiye

Serhat Nasıroğlu
0000-0002-8818-0768
Türkiye

Faruk Incecik
0000-0003-1901-910X
Türkiye

Ayşegül Yolga Tahiroğlu
0000-0002-3039-2864
Türkiye

Adnan Barutçu
0000-0001-8930-1122
Türkiye

Publication Date

September 9, 2025

Submission Date

December 27, 2024

Acceptance Date

August 25, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 32 Number: 3

DOI

https://doi.org/10.17343/sdutfd.1606969

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA94KF88FL

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Çam Ray, P., Gül, G., Firat, S., Nasıroğlu, S., Incecik, F., Yolga Tahiroğlu, A., & Barutçu, A. (2025). Attachment Characteristics of Children with Primary Headache and Their Mothers, and Comparison of Psychiatric Comorbidity and Intelligence Levels of the Children. Medical Journal of Süleyman Demirel University, 32(3), 218-228. https://doi.org/10.17343/sdutfd.1606969

AMA

1.Çam Ray P, Gül G, Firat S, et al. Attachment Characteristics of Children with Primary Headache and Their Mothers, and Comparison of Psychiatric Comorbidity and Intelligence Levels of the Children. Med J SDU. 2025;32(3):218-228. doi:10.17343/sdutfd.1606969

Chicago

Çam Ray, Perihan, Gonca Gül, Sunay Firat, et al. 2025. “Attachment Characteristics of Children With Primary Headache and Their Mothers, and Comparison of Psychiatric Comorbidity and Intelligence Levels of the Children”. Medical Journal of Süleyman Demirel University 32 (3): 218-28. https://doi.org/10.17343/sdutfd.1606969.

EndNote

Çam Ray P, Gül G, Firat S, Nasıroğlu S, Incecik F, Yolga Tahiroğlu A, Barutçu A (September 1, 2025) Attachment Characteristics of Children with Primary Headache and Their Mothers, and Comparison of Psychiatric Comorbidity and Intelligence Levels of the Children. Medical Journal of Süleyman Demirel University 32 3 218–228.

IEEE

[1]P. Çam Ray et al., “Attachment Characteristics of Children with Primary Headache and Their Mothers, and Comparison of Psychiatric Comorbidity and Intelligence Levels of the Children”, Med J SDU, vol. 32, no. 3, pp. 218–228, Sept. 2025, doi: 10.17343/sdutfd.1606969.

ISNAD

Çam Ray, Perihan - Gül, Gonca - Firat, Sunay - Nasıroğlu, Serhat - Incecik, Faruk - Yolga Tahiroğlu, Ayşegül - Barutçu, Adnan. “Attachment Characteristics of Children With Primary Headache and Their Mothers, and Comparison of Psychiatric Comorbidity and Intelligence Levels of the Children”. Medical Journal of Süleyman Demirel University 32/3 (September 1, 2025): 218-228. https://doi.org/10.17343/sdutfd.1606969.

JAMA

1.Çam Ray P, Gül G, Firat S, Nasıroğlu S, Incecik F, Yolga Tahiroğlu A, Barutçu A. Attachment Characteristics of Children with Primary Headache and Their Mothers, and Comparison of Psychiatric Comorbidity and Intelligence Levels of the Children. Med J SDU. 2025;32:218–228.

MLA

Çam Ray, Perihan, et al. “Attachment Characteristics of Children With Primary Headache and Their Mothers, and Comparison of Psychiatric Comorbidity and Intelligence Levels of the Children”. Medical Journal of Süleyman Demirel University, vol. 32, no. 3, Sept. 2025, pp. 218-2, doi:10.17343/sdutfd.1606969.

Vancouver

1.Perihan Çam Ray, Gonca Gül, Sunay Firat, Serhat Nasıroğlu, Faruk Incecik, Ayşegül Yolga Tahiroğlu, Adnan Barutçu. Attachment Characteristics of Children with Primary Headache and Their Mothers, and Comparison of Psychiatric Comorbidity and Intelligence Levels of the Children. Med J SDU. 2025 Sep. 1;32(3):218-2. doi:10.17343/sdutfd.1606969