Children and recurrent headaches: Assessment and treatment implications for school psychologists

A growing consensus has emerged acknowledging the interrelatedness of children's health and their school achievement. Recurrent headaches represent a clinically significant health problem for many children and youth. Recurrent headaches are one of the most common clinical problems encountered at school and they result in frequent school absences, diminished academic performance, and psychosocial comorbidity. This review addresses the role of the school psychologist in the management of recurrent headaches and related distress and provides basic information on etiology, prevalence, assessment, and treatment of recurrent headaches. The purpose is to increase the number of school psychologists who are well prepared and knowledgeable about children's unique health-care needs and how these needs can be adapted into the school ecology.