Three studies of the psychologic changes in chronic headache patients associated with biofeedback and relaxation therapies.

Abstract

Three separate, but similar, studies are described in which the psychologic effects (depression, anxiety, and overall degree of psychosomatic distress) of nonpharmacologic treatment (relaxation and/or biofeedback training) for three kinds of chronic headache (tension, migraine, and mixed migraine and tension) were evaluated. Results showed consistently (across all three studies) significant reductions in depression and trait-anxiety associated with receiving treatment, regardless of headache type or treatment outcome. The significant reduction for overall degree of psychosomatic distress was not differentially related to receiving treatment and thus could have been due to prolonged monitoring of headaches or test-retest regression effects.

• Authors: E B Blanchard, F Andrasik, K A Appelbaum, D D Evans, P Myers, K D Barron
• Journal: Psychosomatic medicine (Psychosom Med) 1986 Jan-Feb Vol. 48 Issue 1-2 Pg. 73-83 ISSN: 0033-3174 [Print] United States
• PMID: 3511494 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Topics

• Adult
• Affective Symptoms (complications, therapy)
• Aged
• Anxiety (therapy)
• Biofeedback, Psychology
• Combined Modality Therapy
• Depression (therapy)
• Female
• Headache (complications, therapy)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Migraine Disorders (complications, therapy)
• Psychophysiologic Disorders (therapy)
• Relaxation Therapy