Positive Health Online

Abstract

SINIATCHKIN and COLLEAGUES, Neuropaediatric Department, Paediatric Hospital, Christian-Albrechts-University, Schwanenweg 20, Kiel, Germany m.siniatchkin@pedneuro.uni-kiel.de  conducted a pilot study developing a special behavioural training for children suffering migraine.

Background

Migraine is a disorder of central information processing which may be characterized by increased amplitudes and reduced habituation of evoked and event-related potentials. In this pilot study, special behavioural training of habituation to aversive stimuli (MIPAS-Family Migraine Patient Seminar for Families) was developed and proven effective in children suffering from migraine without aura.

Methodology

13 children with migraine participated in the MIPAS-Family programme and 13 other children with migraine were treated with biofeedback. The influence of both treatments on abnormal cortical information processing in migraine was assessed using recordings of the contingent negative variation (CNV), an event-related slow cortical potential.

Results

Both MIPAS training and biofeedback caused an equal reduction of migraine frequency and severity. However, MIPAS treatment was associated with a significant increase in iCNV habituation. Changes in the clinical course of migraine correlated positively with normalization of habituation: the greater the reduction in headache frequency, the greater the increase in CNV habituation was. These effects were not observed in the biofeedback group.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that the specific treatment programme which was evolved from knowledge of pathogenetic mechanisms of migraine influences central information processing and leads to a clinical effect.

References

Siniatchkin M, Gerber-von Muller G, Darabaneanu S, Petermann F, Stephani U and Gerber WD. Behavioural treatment programme contributes to normalization of contingent negative variation in children with migraine. Source Cephalalgia. 31(5):562-72. Apr 2011.