Sensory Processing Sensitivity In Adults With And Without Tension-Type Headache: Moderating Role Of Pain Catastrophizing

Abstract

Little is known about the relationship between sensory processing sensitivity and tension-type headache. The aim of the present study is to examine the moderating role of pain catastrophizing in the relationship between sensory processing sensitivity and tension-type headache. The relationship between variables such as gender, blood group, age and family incidence, with constructs of the study were also investigated. The sample was selected from Islamabad and consisted of 324 adults. 212 adults were diagnosed as tension-type headache via a structured questionnaire using the ICHD-3 criteria, and 112 were not diagnosed as tension-type headache. Individuals having TTH were selected via purposive sampling while those not having TTH, were selected via convenient selection technique. The Highly Sensitive Person Scale was used to measure sensory processing sensitivity, and the Pain Catastrophizing scale was used to measure pain catastrophizing. The results show that tension-type headache was positively correlated with sensory processing sensitivity, and this relationship was moderated by pain catastrophizing.