The purpose of the study was to compare cognitive functions in patients with episodic tension-type headache (EpTTH) and chronic tension-type headache (ChTTH).

EpTTH was diagnosed in 34 patients in which it combined with psychovegetative syndrome in 17 persons and with cerebrovascular disorders in 28 persons. ChTTH was diagnosed in 57patients; it was associated with psychovegetative syndrome in 17 of them and with cerebrovascular disorders in 40 of them.

Difference between EpTTH and ChTTH patients was revealed only for the patients with psychovegetative syndrome. Such difference was slight and refered the tests for attention switching.. Patients with cerebrovascular disorders demonstrated worse modally non-specific problems with memory and attention and higher anxiety and depression levels that patients with psychovegetative syndrome.

Results suggest the different mechanisms of tension headache prolongation in the patients with psychovegetative syndrome and cerebrovascular disorders. The chronic tension headache itself doesn’t worse the cognitive functions while general causes exist which influence neuropsychological decline as well as tension headache stability.