Smartphone Addiction in Cervicogenic Headache

NCT07292129 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 2025-GOKAEK-2512_2025.06.18_50
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 78
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

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.

Conditions

Cervicogenic Headache; Smartphone Addiction

Keywords

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

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Smartphone Addiction Scale - Short Form

  Ten-item self-report questionnaire scored on a six-point Likert scale ranging from 1 to 6. The total score ranges from 10 to 60, with higher scores indicating a greater risk of smartphone addiction. Sex-specific cut-off values are 31 or higher for males and 33 or higher for females. A Turkish validated version is available.

  At baseline

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Headache Impact Test with 6 items

  At baseline

• Neck Disability Index

  At baseline

• Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale

  At baseline

• Jenkins Sleep Scale

  At baseline

• Short Form-12 Health Survey

  At baseline

Study Arms (2)

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.

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.

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients diagnosed with cervicogenic headache according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders, third edition, confirmed by a neurologist, were recruited from the outpatient clinics of the Departments of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Neurology at Yozgat Bozok University. Age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers were recruited from the same community.

You may qualify if:

• 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

You may not qualify if:

• 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

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Gulseren Demir Karakilic: lead

Study Sites (1)

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

Yozgat, Yozgat, 66100, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Related Publications (6)

• 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.

  PMID: 35730511 BACKGROUND

• 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.

  BACKGROUND

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

  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.

  PMID: 19770615 BACKGROUND

• 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.

  PMID: 34924791 BACKGROUND

• 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.

  PMID: 29250729 RESULT

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Post-Traumatic Headache; Internet Addiction Disorder; Anxiety Disorders; Depression; Parasomnias

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Headache Disorders, Secondary; Headache Disorders; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Technology Addiction; Behavior, Addictive; Compulsive Behavior; Impulsive Behavior; Behavior; Mental Disorders; Behavioral Symptoms; Sleep Wake Disorders

Study Officials

• Gülseren Demir Karakılıç

  Yozgat Bozok University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: CASE CONTROL
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor, Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 5, 2025
• First Posted: December 18, 2025
• Study Start: June 19, 2025
• Primary Completion: October 3, 2025
• Study Completion: October 3, 2025
• Last Updated: December 29, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-12

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP, ICF
• Time Frame: The datasets will be available beginning 6 months after publication of the study results and will remain accessible for 5 years thereafter.
• Access Criteria: Researchers who provide a methodologically sound proposal may request access to the de-identified datasets. Data will be shared after approval of the proposal and signing of a data access agreement. Requests should be directed to the corresponding author via the institutional email address.

Locations

TU (1)