Smartphone Addiction in Cervicogenic Headache

NCT ID: NCT07292129

Last Updated: 2025-12-29

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Total Enrollment

78 participants

Study Classification

OBSERVATIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-06-19

Study Completion Date

2025-10-03

Brief Summary

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Cervicogenic headache is a secondary headache disorder that originates from the cervical spine and often presents with pain radiating from the neck to the head, reduced functional capacity, and impaired quality of life. In modern society, prolonged smartphone use and dependence are increasingly recognized as potential contributors to musculoskeletal problems, poor posture, psychological distress, and sleep disturbances.

This study was designed as a case-control investigation to explore the relationship between smartphone addiction (problematic smartphone use) and clinical characteristics of cervicogenic headache in comparison with healthy individuals. Participants were evaluated in the outpatient clinics of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Neurology at Yozgat Bozok University.

A structured sociodemographic form was administered, and each participant completed a set of validated assessment tools. Smartphone use behavior was assessed with the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Form. Headache-related disability was measured with the Headache Impact Test. Cervical function was evaluated with the Neck Disability Index. Psychological status was assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Sleep quality was examined with the Jenkins Sleep Scale. Health-related quality of life was measured using the 12-item Short Form Health Survey, and pain intensity was evaluated with the Visual Analog Scale.

The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Approval was obtained from the Clinical Research Ethics Committee, and written informed consent was provided by all participants prior to enrollment.

Detailed Description

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Cervicogenic headache is a secondary headache that arises from dysfunction or pathology of the cervical spine and associated structures. It is characterized by unilateral head and neck pain, which may radiate to the frontal or temporal regions and is often aggravated by neck movements. Cervicogenic headache is known to cause substantial functional disability, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life.

With the rapid increase in smartphone use worldwide, attention has been drawn to its possible musculoskeletal and psychological consequences. Prolonged forward head posture, repetitive neck movements, and excessive screen time may contribute to cervical dysfunction and exacerbate symptoms of cervicogenic headache. In addition, behavioral dependence on smartphones has been associated with mood disorders, sleep disturbances, and impaired daily functioning. Understanding the potential role of smartphone addiction as a modifiable factor in cervicogenic headache is therefore of clinical importance.

The present study was designed as a case-control observational protocol to investigate the association between smartphone addiction and clinical outcomes in individuals with cervicogenic headache compared with healthy controls. Data were collected in the outpatient clinics of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Neurology at Yozgat Bozok University.

A standardized sociodemographic form was administered, followed by a comprehensive set of validated assessment instruments. These included the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Form to evaluate problematic smartphone use, the Headache Impact Test to measure the burden of headaches on daily life, the Neck Disability Index to assess functional limitations related to cervical spine disorders, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale to screen for symptoms of anxiety and depression, the Jenkins Sleep Scale to evaluate sleep quality and disturbances, the 12-item Short Form Health Survey to assess physical and mental aspects of health-related quality of life, and the Visual Analog Scale to record the intensity of pain.

All assessments were performed face-to-face by trained professionals in a clinical setting. The study protocol was approved by the Clinical Research Ethics Committee. Written informed consent was obtained from each participant before enrollment, and all procedures were carried out in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki.

Conditions

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Cervicogenic Headache Smartphone Addiction

Keywords

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Headache Impact Neck Disability Anxiety and Depression Sleep Disturbance Quality of Life Smartphone Use

Study Design

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Observational Model Type

CASE_CONTROL

Study Time Perspective

CROSS_SECTIONAL

Study Groups

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Cervicogenic Headache Group

Adults between 18 and 65 years of age diagnosed with cervicogenic headache based on the International Classification of Headache Disorders, third edition were eligible for inclusion. Exclusion criteria included systemic diseases such as diabetes mellitus, thyroid disorders, chronic kidney disease, malignancy, neurological conditions associated with neuropathic pain, and rheumatic diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, or fibromyalgia. Participants with communication difficulties, illiteracy, or those who declined participation were also excluded.

No interventions assigned to this group

Healthy Control Group

Age- and sex-matched adults without cervicogenic headache or other chronic medical conditions served as controls. Controls were between 18 and 65 years of age, cognitively intact, literate, and willing to participate. Exclusion criteria were the same as for the cervicogenic headache group, including systemic, neurological, or rheumatological diseases, illiteracy, or refusal to participate.

No interventions assigned to this group

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

Adults aged 18-65 years

Literate and cognitively capable of completing questionnaires

Willing to participate and provide written informed consent

For the patient group: Diagnosis of cervicogenic headache based on the International Classification of Headache Disorders, third edition, confirmed by a neurologist

For the control group: Healthy volunteers with no known medical conditions or active complaints, age- and sex-matched with patients

Exclusion Criteria

Comorbidities that may affect pain perception or mood, including diabetes mellitus, thyroid dysfunction, malignancy, chronic kidney disease, neurological diseases associated with neuropathic pain, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, or fibromyalgia

Illiteracy or impaired communication

Current use of medications that may interfere with outcome measures

Withdrawal of consent at any stage
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

65 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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Gulseren Demir Karakilic

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Gulseren Demir Karakilic

Assistant Professor, Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role SPONSOR_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Gülseren Demir Karakılıç

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Yozgat Bozok University

Locations

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Yozgat Bozok University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Yozgat, Yozgat, Turkey (Türkiye)

Site Status

Countries

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Turkey (Türkiye)

References

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Soylu C, Kutuk B. Reliability and Validity of the Turkish Version of SF-12 Health Survey. Turk Psikiyatri Derg. 2022 Summer;33(2):108-117. doi: 10.5080/u25700. English, Turkish.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 35730511 (View on PubMed)

NOYAN, C.O., et al., Akıllı Telefon Bağımlılığı Ölçeğinin Kısa Formunun üniversite öğrencilerindeTürkçe geçerlilik ve güvenilirlik çalışması. Anatolian Journal of Psychiatry/Anadolu Psikiyatri Dergisi, 2015. 16.

Reference Type BACKGROUND

Aydemir, O., Hastane anksiyete ve depresyon olcegi Turkce formunun gecerlilik ve guvenilirligi. Turk Psikiyatri Derg., 1997. 8: p. 187-280.

Reference Type BACKGROUND

Telci EA, Karaduman A, Yakut Y, Aras B, Simsek IE, Yagli N. The cultural adaptation, reliability, and validity of neck disability index in patients with neck pain: a Turkish version study. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2009 Jul 15;34(16):1732-5. doi: 10.1097/BRS.0b013e3181ac9055.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 19770615 (View on PubMed)

Dikmen PY, Bozdag M, Gunes M, Kosak S, Tasdelen B, Uluduz D, Ozge A. Reliability and Validity of Turkish Version of Headache Impact Test (HIT-6) in Patients with Migraine. Noro Psikiyatr Ars. 2020 Apr 24;58(4):300-307. doi: 10.29399/npa.24956. eCollection 2021.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 34924791 (View on PubMed)

Duruoz MT, Erdem D, Gencer K, Ulutatar F, Baklacioglu HS. Validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Jenkins Sleep Scale in psoriatic arthritis. Rheumatol Int. 2018 Feb;38(2):261-265. doi: 10.1007/s00296-017-3911-2. Epub 2017 Dec 18.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 29250729 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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2025-GOKAEK-2512_2025.06.18_50

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id