Why cluster headache is also called "suicide headache"?

Authors

  • Hugo André de Lima Martins Hospital Getúlio Vargas
  • Valdenilson Ribeiro Ribas
  • Daniella Araujo Oliveira
  • Elder Machado
  • Louana Cassiano da Silva
  • Silvya Nery Bernardino
  • Marcelo Moraes Valença

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.48208/HeadacheMed.2011.13

Keywords:

Cluster headache, Attempted suicide

Abstract

Introduction: The cluster headache (CH) is characterized by attacks of excruciating unilateral headache, affecting mainly the fronto-orbital region associated with autonomic signs like lacrimation and conjunctival injection, eventually leading the patient to suicide. Objective: To report a case in which a patient committed self-harm during the crises of CH. Case report: An 85-year-old man was evaluated at the ambulatory of the Getúlio Vargas Hospital, Pernambuco. The patient was also subjected to a neurological examination and a cerebral computed tomography. The patient presented intense pain, with crises that last around three hours, in the right frontoorbital region with spread to the ipsilateral hemicranium. A relevant fact is that during one of the painful episodes the patient threw boiling water on the side of the pain, causing a second-degree burn on part of the head. Comment: The pain intensity in some cases may lead the patient to self-harm, so it is necessary that there be an early specialized approach with the objective of avoiding severe physical and psychological damages like the one that was described in this report.

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Author Biographies

Valdenilson Ribeiro Ribas

Departamento de Neuropsiquiatria, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE

Daniella Araujo Oliveira

Hospital Getúlio Vargas

Elder Machado

Hospital Getúlio Vargas

Departamento de Neuropsiquiatria, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE

Louana Cassiano da Silva

Departamento de Neuropsiquiatria, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE

Silvya Nery Bernardino

Departamento de Neuropsiquiatria, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE

Marcelo Moraes Valença

Departamento de Fisioterapia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE

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Published

2011-06-30

How to Cite

1.
Martins HA de L, Ribas VR, Oliveira DA, Machado E, Silva LC da, Bernardino SN, Valença MM. Why cluster headache is also called "suicide headache"?. Headache Med [Internet]. 2011 Jun. 30 [cited 2024 Dec. 14];2(2):70-2. Available from: https://www.headachemedicine.com.br/index.php/hm/article/view/82

Issue

Section

Case Report

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