Illness behaviors of the patient with chronic headaches

Personal beliefs, illness behaviors, and present expectations were identified in a group of 43 chronic headache patients. History taking mirroring a patient explanatory model was used for the interview. These patients had minimal insight into mechanisms and trigger factors of headaches. Headaches were seen as a separate entity not under the patient's locus of control. Headaches were not identified by the patients as being a behavioral pattern. Few self-directed interventions were noted. Non-M.D. practitioners, such as chiropracters, osteopaths, and herbalists were commonly consulted. In the formal health care system, neurologists and other physicians were consulted extensively. Expectations of diagnosis, treatment and follow-up care was widely divergent between medical practitioners and patients. Dissatisfaction with the health care system was high, as reported by this group of chronic headache patients.