Men reported a trend toward more frequent episodes of headache-related disability than women, suggesting a need for aggressive therapy. This study is limited by the sampling of a headache clinic population. The results of this study differ from those of similar surveys of general population samples. Although the current study cannot comment about headache in the general population, these data more specifically address the symptoms and disability that will be seen in a treatment-seeking population. In a treatment-seeking population, headache and psychological symptoms are similar in men and women.
Male patients are more likely to experience disability than female patients.
Increased male disability in a treatment-seeking population, but not in a general population survey, suggests that men do not seek treatment unless there is associated disability. In addition, men and women report similar treatment effectiveness. This study suggests that the evaluation of headache in men and women should differ by increasing queries related to headache-associated disability for men and investigating different types of trigger factors for men and women. Recommendations for dietary restrictions and avoidance of eating irregularities are more likely to benefit women. However, investigation for psychological distress is necessary for both genders.