title: [Effect of autogenic training with cognitive and symbol therapy on the treatment of patients with primary headache].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Only a minor part of headaches are associated with an organic abnormality in the nervous system. In case of migraine and tension headache, the main provoking factor is psychological stress. Furthermore, these syndromes often occur together with depression and anxiety disorders, and when these comorbid conditions are present headache attacks tend to be more frequent, longer and stronger, causing an increase in the consumption of antimigraine agents, and at the same time increase the consumption of antidepressant and anxiolytic agents. Further to drugs, modified versions of Schultz-type autogenic training is also frequently used for anxiolysis. The aim of our research was to study the effect of the cognitive and symbol therapy enhanced autogenic training on headache and related drug consumption in three different types of primary headaches.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty five female patients with migraine, tension-type headache or mixed headache participated in an eight-month follow-up study. Headache frequency, analgesic, antimigraine and anxiolytic consumption were measured by means of a headache diary. During the first four months (observation phase) patients became familiar with using the diary, and in the second four months they participated in autogenic training. The data of the second, third and fourth months were considered as baseline data.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our method decreased headache frequency and drug consumption in all three headache groups. This means that the cognitive and symbol therapy enhanced autogenic training is an effective alternative for medications in the treatment of primary headaches.
authors.affiliation: Országos Pszichiátriai és Neurológiai Intézet, Neurokémiai és Neuropszichofarmakológiai Laboratórium.
authors.forename: Terézia
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zsombók
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Juhász
authors.forename: Xénia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Gonda
authors.forename: József
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vitrai
authors.forename: György
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bagdy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D051270:Headache Disorders, Primary / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D012008:Recurrence; D013561:Symbolism; D018781:Tension-Type Headache / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents