Scores greater than 40 are consistent with anxiety. In this study, a score greater than 40 on the anxiety trait scale resulted in a diagnosis of anxiety. Powerful others and chance scores were averaged to yield an external control score. A ratio of internal to external scores greater than 1 is desirable, indicating a sense of perceived self-control over headache activity. Possible scores range from a low of 0 to a maximum score of 100 for each of the eight domains.
Normative data are available for a variety of populations.
10 Gender comparisons were made for both headache characteristics and psychological testing. Areas of hypothesized difference, including headache frequency and comorbid anxiety and depression, were evaluated with the Student t test to identify significant differences. Gender comparisons for headache symptoms, associated features, disability, and triggers were evaluated using the chi-square test. Men and women scored similarly on psychological tests. There were no gender differences in levels of depression, anxiety, or sense of self-control over headache.