The Impact of Social Anxiety on Adolescents Diagnosed With Primary Headache: A Case-control Study

Launched by KONYA NECMETTIN ERBAKAN ÜNIVERSITESI · Aug 8, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This study is looking at whether teenagers aged 12 to 18 who have primary headaches (like migraines or tension headaches) are more likely to feel socially anxious compared to teens without headaches. Social anxiety means feeling very nervous or uncomfortable in social situations. The researchers will also see if things like exposure to tobacco smoke, body weight, and parents’ education level affect this connection between headaches and social anxiety.

To take part, teens must be between 12 and 18 years old. Those in the headache group need a confirmed diagnosis from a specialist, while those in the comparison group should have no history of frequent headaches or other long-term physical or mental health issues. Participants will be asked to complete a questionnaire about social anxiety and provide some information about their environment and family background. People with other neurological diseases, diagnosed psychiatric conditions, or who are taking certain medications won’t be eligible. This study is not yet recruiting participants but aims to better understand how headaches and social anxiety might be linked in adolescents.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Adolescents aged 12-18 years
• • Case group: Participants who will be diagnosed with primary headache according to InternationalClassification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition (ICHD-3) criteria, confirmed by a pediatric neurologist
• • Control group: Participants who will have no history of recurrent headache or chronic physical/psychiatricillness
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • History of neurological disease other than primary headache
• • Any previously diagnosed psychiatric disorders
• • Regular use of psychotropic medications
• • Cognitive or developmental disabilities that would interfere with assessments