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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> Chronic Headache Investigation
        
(Message started by: Daniel-SotonUni on May 26th, 2007, 3:15pm)
Title: Chronic Headache Investigation
Post by Daniel-SotonUni on May 26th, 2007, 3:15pm
Hi everybody

My name is Daniel Schoth, and I am a PhD student at the University of Southampton working with Dr Christina Liossi. Our research focuses upon the daily effects of chronic headaches upon attentional processes.

As part of this research, we are in need of individuals who suffer from regular headaches to participate in our research.

I therefore respectfully ask if anyone here would be willing to participate in our investigation, which lasts approximately 30 minutes and involves questionnaires and a short computer task (which is completely harmless and very easy to complete)

At the moment, it is only possible to participate in this research at the University (where the computer programme is). However, we are currently in the process of making this programme available on the Internet.

If anybody would be willing to participate in this research at a future date, or would like to know more, my contact details are provided at the end of this email.

May i take this opportunity to encourage you all in your experiences with cluster headaches, and to thank you for taking the time to read this message. If you would prefer to simply leave your email addresses here, I can email you a standard information pack in the upcoming week.

Thank you,

Daniel Schoth, BSc, MSc

Email:   Des205@soton.ac.uk
Title: Re: Chronic Headache Investigation
Post by Brewcrew on May 26th, 2007, 3:26pm

Quote:
I therefore respectfully ask if anyone here would be willing to participant...


You're a doctoral candidate? I assume it's not in English.

No, I'm not willing to participant. But good luck.
Title: Re: Chronic Headache Investigation
Post by chewy on May 26th, 2007, 4:06pm

Quote:
Dr Christina Liossi
School: Psychology
Faculty: Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
Telephone number: 023 8059 4645
Email: cliossi@soton.ac.uk
Subject:
Psychology of paediatric and adult chronic pain
Psychosocial aspects of cancer


A psychologist studying Cluster Headache?

Be one with the pain?

I'll pass.
Title: Re: Chronic Headache Investigation
Post by UN solved on May 26th, 2007, 6:31pm
Although I'm not interested in participating @ the moment, I can see why a psychologist might be interested in the psychological effects of cluster headaches on an individual and their friends/family.

And what type of program are you referring to that should be available online at a later date ? I'm always a little nervous about putting programs or executable files on my comp unless it's been around for awhile and tested.

Btw, couldn't you find participants closer to your own location ... maybe from ouchuk ??  ;;D

UNsolved
goodluck with your study
Title: Re: Chronic Headache Investigation
Post by BarbaraD on May 26th, 2007, 7:08pm
I really don't think you're going to find anyone on this site who suffers from "regular" headaches.

Think I'll pass also.
Title: Re: Chronic Headache Investigation
Post by Mark C on May 26th, 2007, 7:24pm
Tough crowd...we is a bit jaded aint we............. ;;D
Title: Re: Chronic Headache Investigation
Post by Lotus on May 26th, 2007, 8:12pm

Hello Daniel

My concern with this is that it seems you have not done your homework for the preparation for this research very well.

How much do you know about cluster headaches?

Clusterheadaches are NOT regular headaches. You cant compare the effects CH have on a person attentional process with the effects of say tension headaches have.

It would be like comparing the effects of a atomic bomb vs a hand grenade.

It would greatly affect the results/outcomes of the study.

You should read up more about CH with all its complexity from an abnormal hypothalamus to massive vasodilatation to autonomic nerve activation .... to see whether or not it fits the catergory of " chronic/regular headaches" that you are looking for first before wasting your time and our time asking for participants here.

Also it would be nice when asking to give us more information on what you are actually looking for or trying to prove/disprove in your research. For eg : what actual "attentional processes" are you referring to ?

Just my humble opinion.

Thank you very much for visiting, while you are here maybe you might like to read up a bit more about clusterheadaches and its pain.

All the best.


Annette Do ,BHB . MBChB. MD
Title: Re: Chronic Headache Investigation
Post by Linda_Howell on May 26th, 2007, 8:25pm


  I had a regular headache once.  ::)

   
Title: Re: Chronic Headache Investigation
Post by ClusterChuck on May 26th, 2007, 8:50pm

on 05/26/07 at 20:25:00, Linda_Howell wrote:
  I had a regular headache once.  ::)

   


ROFLMFAO!!!! [smiley=crackup.gif] [smiley=crackup.gif] [smiley=crackup.gif]


Chuck
Title: Re: Chronic Headache Investigation
Post by lionsound on May 26th, 2007, 8:51pm
perhaps he means the kind of regular that pertains to happening at regular intervals. methodical.....rather than the "ordinary" kind of regular?




Perhaps, Daniel, you should supply us with some references or email someone over at OUCH.
Title: Re: Chronic Headache Investigation
Post by Kevin_M on May 26th, 2007, 9:08pm

on 05/26/07 at 15:15:34, Daniel-SotonUni wrote:
Our research focuses upon the daily effects of chronic headaches upon attentional processes.

As part of this research, we are in need of individuals who suffer from regular headaches to participate in our research.



It could be, poor or less precise word choice has created a feel here that your familiarity with clusters may be new to you.  "Daily effects effects of chronic headaches" would hope to mean "regular headaches" as in methodical or systematic headaches as oppose to common or ordinary headaches.  
 
 

As a newby here to an attentive bunch, let us know you're a bit acquainted with clusters, attentional processes during a cluster headache is nil, to start with, and pretty normal when not occuring.




* I was posting Rory and didn't see your post before I did.  Same thought.  ;)
Title: Re: Chronic Headache Investigation
Post by E-Double on May 26th, 2007, 9:14pm
Geez guys!!!!!!!!! :-/

At every top HA clinic there are teams of psychologists and psychiatrists in addition to the neurological staff.

If you can provide more information I 'd be willing to converse prior to making a decision.

Thank you and good luck
Title: Re: Chronic Headache Investigation
Post by Lotus on May 26th, 2007, 10:00pm

Even if the "regular" mentioned here was meant as in a timeframe, having clusterheadaches alongside other forms of headaches such as chronic tension headaches may affect greatly the outcomes..

As Kevin pointed out, if attentional processes here mean concentration, ability to think, ability to remember etc then during a bad CH hit there is almost none, yet its quite normal during painfree time. The effects will also vary depend on the levels of the kip, on whether its a high cycle or low cycle, the effects of various meds ...

There is a computer task to be completed I assume to test the ability to remember and concentrate and maybe do some maths .... A CHers just before, during, and just after an attack may have great difficulty doing it to say the least, yet if its done during painfree time there wont likely be any problem. Therefore for a CHer, when the test is done may make a difference, while for say a person with chronic tension headaches that last for hours or days, when he/she undertakes the test should not have a great bearing on the outcome.

I am not advocating against it, I am concerned whether the researchers are familiar enough with clusterheadaches to make the decision that its worthwhile for Chers to participate. Furthermore there has not been enough information about the study provided.
Title: Re: Chronic Headache Investigation
Post by sailpappy on May 27th, 2007, 8:11am
Daniel,
       I am a 37 year irretractable severe chronic sufferer. I would consider aiding your research,  we at this site seem to be a little on the pestimistic side, as we have been viewed as anything from people seeking narcotic drugs only to having schizophrenia, email me at Sailpappy@Hotmail.com with a copy of the questionairre and I will consider the implacations, if I can help I will!
                                                                John
Title: Re: Chronic Headache Investigation
Post by midwestbeth on May 27th, 2007, 9:38am
Linda Howell wrote:

I had a regular headache once.    ::)




on 05/26/07 at 20:50:46, ClusterChuck wrote:
ROFLMFAO!!!! [smiley=crackup.gif] [smiley=crackup.gif] [smiley=crackup.gif]


Chuck


I'll second that!! Thanks for the morning laugh.

Beth
Title: Re: Chronic Headache Investigation
Post by taraann on May 27th, 2007, 10:34am

on 05/26/07 at 21:14:44, E-Double wrote:
Geez guys!!!!!!!!! :-/

At every top HA clinic there are teams of psychologists and psychiatrists in addition to the neurological staff.

If you can provide more information I 'd be willing to converse prior to making a decision.

Thank you and good luck
I was thinking along similar lines.  Although I am in no position to help right now with the pending move.  But I feel as though we get a mob type mentallity going here.  We need to form our own opinions based on further information.
Title: Re: Chronic Headache Investigation
Post by Kevin_M on May 27th, 2007, 12:10pm

on 05/27/07 at 10:34:17, taraann wrote:
I feel as though we get a mob type mentallity going here.  



Krrrrrrrrrr "Tracy, come in Tracy, Flat Top and Mumbles are asking questions again, a snicker was heard  too."   Krrrrrr

Krrrrrrr  "Tracy here, I'm at the movies with Tess Trueheart, have a crossing guard report them to the nearest principal, can't have that mob mentality spreading.  Tracy out. Krrrrrrr
Title: Re: Chronic Headache Investigation
Post by Gator on May 27th, 2007, 1:11pm
You ask for help and ask for help and when someone tries to reach out, you slap their hand.  Gotta love this place sometimes.  Did anyone bother doing a little research of their own before jumping on this guy?

A list of the Staff and Students in the Southampton School of Psychology:  Both Mr Schoth and Dr Liossi are listed on this page.

http://www.psychology.soton.ac.uk/people/listpeople.php?category=all

Mr Schoth's profile on the Southampton University website:

http://www.psychology.soton.ac.uk/people/ShowProfile.php?username=des205&source=all

Doctor Liossi's profile page:

http://www.psychology.soton.ac.uk/people/ShowProfile.php?username=cliossi&source=all

From Dr. Liossi's profile page:


Quote:
My programme of research in pain focuses on three intertwined themes a) the cognitive and affective neuroscience of pain, b) the development of theory driven psychological interventions for the management of acute and chronic pain in children, c) the evaluation of the efficacy and effectiveness of psychological interventions in paediatric pain management.


I've sent an e-mail to Dr. Liossi seeking to verify the existence of this study.  In the meantime, I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt.

A large number of us here complain about CH induced CRS, it would seem quite logical and possibly beneficial that a study be done on memory and cognition in patients with chronic pain.  CH is about as chronic and as painful as it gets.

Daniel, I am a 44 year old with intractable chronic cluster headache and would also add my name to the list of people who would participate in such a study were it offered in my area.

Good luck,

Mike
Title: Re: Chronic Headache Investigation
Post by Daniel-SotonUni on May 27th, 2007, 5:18pm
Hi everyone.

Firstly, apologies if some of you feel I did not provide enough detail on the investigation. Sometimes researchers will only provide a small amount of information in an attempt to eliminate potential biasing of results. However, as some of you have questions as to the veracity of the investigation, I present below my justification for the first experiment on my PhD.

Research into attentional biases, which can be defined as a preoccupation with stimuli associated with one's emotional fears, have provided ample evidence to support the presence of such biases in individuals with a range of emotional disorders, including anxiety disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder.  In recent years, a number of researchers have investigated the possibility that such biases may also be found in individuals experiencing regular, persistent pain.

Despite this recent interest, with notable investigations by Asmundson et al, little-to-no evidence has been found to support this possibility.

My investigation into chronic pain attentional biases began on my MSc in Health Psychology, where I used individuals with Chronic Headaches as a sample, comparing their performance on a dot-probe computer task to a sample of non-headache healthy participants.

My current research as part of my PhD continues this line of investigation, attempting to resolve a number of limitations apparent in the previous research.

As you will no doubt know, cluster headaches are characterised in part by their cluster periods. However, the gap between these periods may last anytime between months and years. Chronic cluster headaches, as defined by the International Classification of Headache Disorders (2nd edition), subsection 3.1.2, are those attacks that occur ‘…for more than one year without remission, or with remissions lasting less than one month’ (pp 44).  

The current investigation is using individuals with chronic headaches because they are theoretically the most likely to display attentional biases.

The purpose of my request here was to identify individuals who may be willing to participate in our research, providing a computerised version of our investigation can be developed.

[Also, thank you to those who have requested more information on the investigation. This will be provided within the week]
Title: Re: Chronic Headache Investigation
Post by starlight on May 27th, 2007, 5:39pm
Good luck with your study.  It sounds interesting.  Anything that can help with these things is great in my opinion.
I would help if I could but I am episodic and am not presently in cycle.
If I can answer any questions to help though I will.   Star
Title: Re: Chronic Headache Investigation
Post by Pinkfloyd on May 28th, 2007, 1:42am

on 05/26/07 at 15:15:34, Daniel-SotonUni wrote:
Our research focuses upon the daily effects of chronic headaches upon attentional processes.


Hello Daniel,
Thank you for your work and interest in this matter. As having recently spoken with the mother of a 30 yr. old cluster sufferer that committed suicide, I am very interested in any and all psychological aspects of chronic pain. Especially when it pertains to cluster headaches in general.
Please forward additional information to the email address listed below and I will forward the information and request to all of the members of Clusterbusters.
(Clusterbusters is a group of cluster sufferers, doctors, researchers and others interested in, and participating in, cluster headache research)

Thank you for your interest,
Bobw
psiloscribe at yahoo.com
Title: Re: Chronic Headache Investigation
Post by Lotus on May 28th, 2007, 3:43am

on 05/27/07 at 17:18:55, Daniel-SotonUni wrote:
Research into attentional biases, which can be defined as a preoccupation with stimuli associated with one's emotional fears, have provided ample evidence to support the presence of such biases in individuals with a range of emotional disorders, including anxiety disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder.  In recent years, a number of researchers have investigated the possibility that such biases may also be found in individuals experiencing regular, persistent pain.

...

My investigation into chronic pain attentional biases began on my MSc in Health Psychology, where I used individuals with Chronic Headaches as a sample, comparing their performance on a dot-probe computer task to a sample of non-headache healthy participants.



Thank you very much Daniel for the information.

Please correct me if I am wrong, you are doing this research as part of your PhD course ( as a thesis ? ) under the supervision of your doctorate supervisor Dr Liossi? and the objective of the research is to see if people with chronic pain such as chronic headaches display a bias in their perception/attention to painful stimuli, due to the nature of their (chronic) pain ?

Annette
Title: Re: Chronic Headache Investigation
Post by Sandy_C on May 28th, 2007, 11:00am
Thank you Mike (Gator) for doing the homework for the rest of us.  And, thank you Daniel for undertaking this study.  

In my opinion,  any research, any study, whether done by a neurologist, psychologist,  headache specialist, family practitioner, or, heck, eye doctor, chiropractor should not automatically be thrown under the bus without further investigation.  It's research.  And research is the only thing that may ever find a "cure" or solution to cluster headaches.

Daniel, I am one of the fortunate ones as I am episodic and out of cycle (sort of).  I wish I could participate in your study.  Again, thank you for your research.  I hope that you gather enough partipants, and that you find something that may somehow help us.

Sandy
Title: Re: Chronic Headache Investigation
Post by UN solved on May 28th, 2007, 11:43pm
I sure hope that it wasn't my reply that sounded like this person was being 'jumped on'.  I had no intentions on making him feel unwelcomed. If it did sound like that, then I apologize ... that's not what I wanted at all.

And I do think that there is a place for psychological / psychiatric studies concerning cluster headaches as the impact of this illness can greatly influence ones life ( socially, economically, emotionally, physically, etc ). The impact can vary greatly from person to person.

Goodluck on your studies & I hope you stumble upon a successful treatment that may benefit us all. Furthermore, I am interested in seeing the informational packet ... so please email me one too. Thanks

Best wishes

UNsolved < mrclusters@yahoo.com >
Title: Re: Chronic Headache Investigation
Post by BarbaraD on May 29th, 2007, 9:42am
Maybe it was the words "regular headaches" that got our backs up. CH is anything but "regular".

I'm chronic and would rather not be, so yep, send me a packet also:
Bdhenderson@hughes.net

Hugs BD
Title: Re: Chronic Headache Investigation
Post by LeeS on May 29th, 2007, 10:10am
Hi Barbara

You're right; we are a funny lot over here.  Regular for us tends to mean 'even' as in occurring at fixed intervals e.g. "a regular beat", "the even rhythm of her breathing" or "a regular headache" etc.

If you ask for a "regular beer" over here, for example, you'll probably get a top-up every five minutes or so :)

Check your e-mail Daniel 8)

-Lee
Title: Re: Chronic Headache Investigation
Post by Gator on May 30th, 2007, 12:22pm
Looks like it is unnecessary now, but I did receive confirmation that this is indeed a valid project

Part of the e-mail I received from Dr. Liossi:


Quote:
Yes, Daniel is doing an ESRC funded PhD at the moment looking at attentional biases in individuals with chronic headaches. This is part of a research programme at the Pain research lab of the University of Southampton which I am leading.


Daniel, thanks for bringing this here and like I said, I will be happy to participate from here in Oklahoma, USA.
Title: Re: Chronic Headache Investigation
Post by Daniel-SotonUni on May 30th, 2007, 1:24pm
Hi everybody,

Apologies for the seemingly sporadic intervals of my replies. I will be finalising project details with my supervisor within the next few days, which involves a discussion concerning the practical issues involved of making my programme available on the Internet.

I’d like to say thank you to everybody that has requested further information or offered me support my forwarding the details of this investigation to others. It means a lot to me personally that people are willing to assist me, and I am truly grateful.
Title: Re: Chronic Headache Investigation
Post by michael on May 30th, 2007, 2:36pm
Hi Daniel,

I'm from Nottingham, England.

I'm episodic for the last 40 years though currently not in cycle.

If I can help at all let me know.

Mike
Title: Re: Chronic Headache Investigation
Post by chewy on May 30th, 2007, 8:00pm
I've been thinking a lot about this and all that have posted to the positive are correct.

I should be grateful when any credentialed professional uses their time and energy to investigate any aspect of this condition and it certainly has plenty of psychological effects on both sufferers and supporters.

I personally have had negative experiances with therapists attepting to deal with my CH and hence my skepticism. I apologize for that. I actually had one therapist tell me to be "one with the pain". (She herself came close to needing her own advise) Maybe your research will exempt the next sufferer from illbegotten treatments from a therapist/psychologist.  If you can accomplish this through your work, or even take steps towards that desired effect, then I applaud you.


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