Headstrong: a pilot study of a CD-ROM intervention for recurrent pediatric headache.
OBJECTIVE
To empirically evaluate a minimal therapist contact CD-ROM pain management program for recurrent pediatric headache developed as part of this study.


METHODS
Participants were 37 children aged 7-12 attending a pediatric neurology clinic for evaluation of recurrent headache. Children who were randomly assigned to the treatment group worked through the CD-ROM program on home computers for 4 weeks following baseline assessment, whereas those assigned to the wait-list group continued following the prescriptions of their neurologist. Data on daily headache activity and headache-related disability were collected at baseline and up to 3 months after treatment.


RESULTS
Children who received the adjunctive CD-ROM program had significant improvements in headache activity above and beyond those in the control group. Results provide initial support for the utility of adding an adjunctive CD-ROM psychological intervention to standard medical care for recurrent pediatric headache and potentially other chronic pain conditions in children.
Connelly
Mark
M
Division of Behavioral Pediatrics, University of Kansas Medical Center, KS, USA. mark.connelly@duke.edu
Rapoff
Michael A
MA
Thompson
Nicole
N
Connelly
Wendy
W
D002648:Child; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012008:Recurrence; D012984:Software; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation*