Anxiolytic effects of neuroimaging in primary headaches
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Does neuroimaging have an anxiolytic effect on patients with primary headaches? A pilot study
IRAS ID
220242
Contact name
Ian Zealley
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Dundee
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 5 months, 1 days
Research summary
Many patients present to their General Practitioners (GPs) with an unexplained headache. Many of these headaches are primary, meaning they have no obvious physical cause and do not have red flags. Sometimes, the GPs refer patients onto neuroimaging such as open access Computer Tomography (CT) scan to reassure patients that there is no serious physical cause underlying their headaches (e.g. tumours). However, the actual effect on patient anxiety is uncertain and has not been quantified. This places undue burden on radiological resources. Hence, this project aims to quantify this effect, if any, on anxiety of patients with primary headaches by using the anxiety section of the standardised Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Patients will be recruited from the Tayside Specialist Headache Clinic as well as the Ninewells Clinical Radiology Department. HADS will be administered as a questionnaire, both before their CT scan, and 3-months after their CT scan. The first HADS will be conducted face-to-face; the second HADS will be conducted over the phone.
REC name
North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 1
REC reference
17/NS/0013
Date of REC Opinion
28 Feb 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion