Migraine and photic stimulation: report on a survey of migraineurs using flickering light therapy.
Users of a commercial light therapy device who were using it to treat migraine were surveyed prospectively to determine what results they obtained after 30 days of daily use. Out of a total of 55 migraineurs, 44% reported that the frequency of their migraine attacks after the treatment was 'Somewhat Less' or 'Much Less' (under a conservative interpretation of these categories). Considering only the 28 migraineurs who stated that their migraine attacks were normally preceded by warning signs, 53% reported that the frequency of their migraine attacks was 'Somewhat Less' or 'Much Less'. In view of the limited efficacy and undesirable side-effects of the available migraine preventive drugs, photic stimulation (flickering light therapy) must be considered a possible preventive treatment for migraine.
Noton
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Forest Institute, Petaluma, California 94952, USA.
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000628:therapy*; D020325:Migraine with Aura / Q000628:therapy; D020326:Migraine without Aura / Q000628:therapy; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards; D016896:Treatment Outcome