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Research: LARSSON and colleagues,
Listed in Issue 123
Abstract
LARSSON and colleagues, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, NTNU, Kolstergata 46/48, N-7489 Trondheim, Norway, have treated adolescent headache-sufferers in schools with relaxation.
Background
In recent reviews of psychological and drug treatment, relaxation training approaches have been found to be efficacious for children and adolescents suffering from recurrent tension headache, while biofeedback procedures provide effective help for migraine sufferers. The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness and efficiency of relaxation training provided within school settings.
Methodology
Over a 20-year period, 288 adolescents aged 10 to 18 participated in 7 randomized controlled trials conducted within regular school health service settings. Subjects were included if they had suffered from frequent migraine or tension headaches, or from both headache types, for at least 1 year. Various formats of standardized relaxation training procedures were contrasted to different attention-control approaches or self-monitoring of headaches in prospective diary recordings.
Results
The results showed that a therapist-administered relaxation approach was superior to self-help or school-nurse administered relaxation training approaches. Students with tension headaches responded positively to any form of relaxation training, whereas those with frequent migraine responded well only to therapist-administered relaxation. However, school-nurse administered procedures were found to be the most efficient form of relaxation treatment, in particular for adolescents suffering from tension headaches. Total headache activity, the number of headache days and peak headache intensity were significantly reduced after relaxation treatment, in addition to medication usage. Treatment gains were well maintained at the 6 to 10-month follow-up.
Conclusion
Therapist-administered relaxation training is an effective treatment for adolescents suffering from frequent tension headaches or migraine. However, such treatment administered by school-nurses is an efficient treatment approach for adolescents suffering from tension headaches.
References
Larsson B, Carlsson J, Fichtel A, Melin L. Relaxation treatment of adolescent headache sufferers: results from a school-based replication series. Headache 45 (6): 692-704, Jun 2005.
