Background

Cluster headache (CH) is clinically associated with considerable psychosocial burden. However, instruments to assess and characterize psychosocial factors in cluster headache more specifically are lacking. This study aimed to develop a self-report questionnaire, which assesses the broadest possible spectrum of psychosocial factors in cluster headache, the Cluster Headache Scales (CHS).

Method

Items of the Cluster Headache Scales were constructed based on a literature review and semi-structured interviews with several experts (including persons with cluster headache). A cross-sectional online survey was conducted to determine the psychometric properties and the factor structure of the Cluster Headache Scales. Data was analyzed using exploratory factor analysis as well as exploratory structural equation modelling (ESEM).

Results

In total, n = 342 subjects with cluster headache (mean age 47.8, 63% male, 51% with episodic cluster headache) were included. Factor analysis yielded eight clearly interpretable factors: Medical care, medication side effects, fear of attacks, disability, (auto)aggression, coping, physical activity, and financial burden, which are assessed via 36 items. The internal consistencies of the subscales were acceptable to excellent and ranged between Cronbach’s alpha = .76 and .93. The pattern of correlations with related instruments provides first evidence for convergent validity.

Conclusion

The CHS represents a reliable and valid self-report instrument for the assessment of psychosocial factors in persons with cluster headache, which appears useful for both clinical practice as well as research.

Trial registration: The study was registered at the German Clinical Trials Register (www.drks.de, ID-Number: DRKS00016502).

中文翻译：

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丛集性头痛中社会心理因素的确定 - 丛集性头痛量表 (CHS) 的构建和心理测量特性。

背景

丛集性头痛 (CH) 在临床上与相当大的社会心理负担有关。然而，缺乏更具体地评估和表征丛集性头痛的社会心理因素的工具。本研究旨在开发一份自我报告问卷，以评估最广泛的丛集性头痛的心理社会因素，即丛集性头痛量表 (CHS)。

方法

丛集性头痛量表的项目是根据文献回顾和与几位专家（包括丛集性头痛患者）的半结构化访谈构建的。进行了一项横断面在线调查，以确定丛集性头痛量表的心理测量特性和因素结构。使用探索性因素分析以及探索性结构方程模型 (ESEM) 分析数据。

结果

总共包括 n = 342 名患有丛集性头痛的受试者（平均年龄 47.8 岁，63% 为男性，51% 患有发作性丛集性头痛）。因素分析产生了八个明确可解释的因素：医疗保健、药物副作用、对攻击的恐惧、残疾、（自动）攻击性、应对、身体活动和经济负担，通过 36 个项目进行评估。分量表的内部一致性可以接受到优秀，介于 Cronbach's alpha = .76 和 0.93 之间。与相关工具的相关模式为收敛效度提供了第一个证据。

结论

CHS 是一种可靠且有效的自我报告工具，用于评估丛集性头痛患者的社会心理因素，对临床实践和研究都有用。

试验注册：该研究已在德国临床试验注册中心（www.drks.de，ID 号：DRKS00016502）注册。