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Any discussion of the nature of headache brings to the forefront its psychological aspects. That emotional disturbances may cause headache is accepted, although the exact mechanism by which emotions gain access to the structures that react painfully is still undetermined. Headache of psychological origins may produce symptoms in two different ways: indirectly, as a symbolic attempt to solve a problem, or directly, as alterations of specific physiological functions. These alterations are very often the physiologic expression of an existing emotional-feeling or -tension state. The mechanisms by which functional headaches are produced include (1) changes in cranial blood vessels, (2) sustained muscle contraction of the neck and/or scalp, (3) alterations in glandular function, and (4) conversion of psychological conflict into physical symptoms, as is seen in cases of conversion hysteria. In the latter, psychic energy derived from repression is converted into a physical symptom or sign (1).

DOI: 10.1007/978-94-011-7289-9_4

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