[Headache and perception]

Abstract

Attacks of migraine can be caused by a spasmodic overexertion of perception which has neurotic origins. In such cases massive intolerance with regard to depressive episodes and helplessness is observed in the patients. This can be plausibly explained on the background of unsolved infantile conflicts. As an attempt at a solution on the somatic level the patients employ motor and sensor overexertion which may result in overexposure to stimuli and, subsequently, in headache. When this development of symptoms is considered as a general model a perfect analogy to the development of the psychoneuroses becomes apparent.