Extended Follow-up Study of the Effects of Brief Psychological Procedures in Migraine Therapy

Abstract

In an extended follow-up approximately 3 years after an evaluation of the relative efficacy of several brief psychological procedures for migraine therapy, 78% of the participants rated their headaches as “better” than at the one-year follow-up period of that earlier study. Data obtained from daily headache record forms did not support the subjective evaluation since the significant improvements in headache intensity and frequency obtained at the earlier follow-up periods were no longer evident. Reduced levels of medication, however, were maintained. It is suggested that yearly reinforcement of any of the brief procedures could result in a practical viable alternative, or adjunct, to traditional pharmacological treatment.

Key Words:

• migraine headache
• hypnosis
• relaxation
• biofeedback
• simulation
• followup studies