Psychological treatments for pediatric headache.

Headache is the most common pain problem in children and adolescents and, in a considerable proportion, a source of suffering and disability. Medical intervention mainly relies on abortive pharmacological agents (analgesics and antimigraine drugs). Psychological therapies aim at the prevention of headache episodes and the modifications of cognitive-emotional and cognitive-behavioral processes influencing pain. Three main forms of therapy have been evaluated in randomized controlled trials and reviewed in meta-analyses: relaxation training, biofeedback and multimodal cognitive-behavioral therapy. So far there is only scarce evidence on hypnosis and acceptance and commitment therapy, although they seem to be promising. Evidence demonstrates that psychological therapies are efficacious, and that clinically relevant improvement is found in approximately 70\% of the treated children at follow-up examination. Future research needs to focus on mechanisms of change, and to extend its view of effects induced by therapy beyond headache improvement to indicators of quality of life. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

Accession Number: 2011-07280-009. PMID: 21375445 Partial author list: First Author & Affiliation: Kröner-Herwig, Birgit; Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Georg-Elias-Muller Institute of Psychology, Georg-August-University of Gottingen, Gottingen, Germany. Other Publishers: Informa Healthcare; Taylor & Francis. Release Date: 20110606. Correction Date: 20150921. Publication Type: Journal (0100), Peer Reviewed Journal (0110). Format Covered: Print. Document Type: Journal Article. Language: English. Major Descriptor: Cognitive Behavior Therapy; Headache; Pain; Pediatrics; Psychotherapy. Minor Descriptor: Biofeedback; Relaxation Therapy. Classification: Psychotherapy & Psychotherapeutic Counseling (3310). Population: Human (10). Age Group: Childhood (birth-12 yrs) (100). References Available: Y. Page Count: 8. Issue Publication Date: Mar, 2011. Copyright Statement: Expert Reviews Ltd. 2011.