title: Randomized controlled trial of the acceptability, feasibility, and preliminary effects of a cognitive behavioral skills building intervention in adolescents with chronic daily headaches: a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The treatment challenge of adolescents with chronic daily headaches (CDHs) creates an urgent need for evidence-based interventions. Therefore the purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the acceptability, feasibility, and preliminary effects of a brief cognitive behavioral skills building intervention with 36 adolescents, 13 to 17 years of age, who had CDHs and mild to moderate depressive symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were randomly assigned either to the Creating Opportunities for Personal Empowerment-Headache Education Program (COPE-HEP) or to a headache education comparison group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Adolescents and parents found the COPE-HEP to be highly acceptable. Medium to large positive effects were demonstrated on the adolescents' depression in both groups and on anxiety and beliefs in the COPE-HEP group. COPE-HEP offered additional benefits of a larger decrease in adolescent anxiety over time and stronger beliefs in the teens' ability to manage their headaches.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adolescents with CDHs and elevated depressive/anxiety symptoms should be offered headache hygiene education plus cognitive-behavioral skills building interventions. A full-scale trial to determine the more long-term benefits of COPE-HEP is now warranted.
authors.forename: Carolyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hickman
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jacobson
authors.forename: Bernadette Mazurek
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Melnyk
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000628:therapy; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D020773:Headache Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Adolescents; behavioral interventions; chronic daily headaches; psychological