title: Posttraumatic headache: an exploratory treatment study.
abstract: Fourteen patients with posttraumatic headache (PTHA) were treated with a comprehensive treatment package targeting headache symptoms along with associated posttraumatic stress symptoms. Treatment consisted of some or all of the following depending on headache features: thermal biofeedback, electromyography biofeedback targeting the forehead and/or neck muscles, progressive muscle relaxation, education and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Mean improvement for the treatment group was 21%, whereas mean improvement for the wait-list group was--14% indicating a worsening of headache; however, the difference between groups was not statistically significant. There was a significant between groups difference on headache-free days. Within group results were modest with 29% mean improvement by the end of treatment. The reduction in headache index was significant. Minor reductions in psychopathology, most notably anxiety, were found after treatment. This study confirmed the treatment difficulties seen in this understudied population of headache sufferers, but offered hope for symptom relief.
authors.affiliation: Program for Cancer Prevention and Control, Derald. H. Ruttenberg Cancer Center, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1130, New York, New York 10029-6574, USA. kristin.tatrow@mssm.edu
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tatrow
authors.forename: Edward B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Blanchard
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Silverman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001676:Biofeedback, Psychology / Q000502:physiology; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D020773:Headache Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009126:Muscle Relaxation / Q000502:physiology; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*