Relaxation prophylaxis for childhood migraine: a randomized placebo-controlled trial.
A randomized controlled trial was used to evaluate the effectiveness of relaxation training in the treatment of paediatric migraine. Relaxation training was compared with-two control groups (psychological placebo and 'own best efforts') in a total of 99 children and adolescents with frequent migraine. Daily recording of the headaches following treatment, three months after treatment and at the one-year follow-up indicated that all three treatments were equally effective. The importance of the use of adequate control conditions which generate equivalent expectancies in pain treatment research was confirmed.
McGrath
P J
PJ
Department of Psychology, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa.
Humphreys
P
P
Goodman
J T
JT
Keene
D
D
Firestone
P
P
Jacob
P
P
Cunningham
S J
SJ
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D012063:Relaxation