Self-help group and medication overuse headache: preliminary data.
The objective of the study is to investigate the benefits of joining a self-help group for patients with medication overuse headache (MOH). A self-help group is a voluntary gathering of a small number of persons who share a common problem. Little is known about support groups for people with chronic non-malignant pain such as MOH. Eight patients with refractory MOH attended a self-help group twice a month. During the meetings, patients were asked to focus on their headache experiences. Our data showed an increase in resourcefulness in coping with pain and a reduction in cephalalgiophobia. All patients reported general benefits in sharing their headache-related problems. No differences were found for headache frequency or analgesic overuse. To our knowledge, this is the first report on a self-help group for patients with MOH. Joining a self-help group can help patients develop positive attitudes to managing pain.
Sancisi
Elisa
E
Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Bologna, via Ugo Foscolo 7, 40123 Bologna, Italy. elisa.sancisi@unibo.it
Rausa
Marialuisa
M
Zanigni
Stefano
S
Cevoli
Sabina
S
Pala
Andrea Norcini
AN
Nicodemo
Marianna
M
Grimaldi
Daniela
D
Montagna
Pasquale
P
Cortelli
Pietro
P
Pierangeli
Giulia
G
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003863:Depression / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D051271:Headache Disorders, Secondary / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome