Long-term effects of biofeedback on migraine headache: a prospective follow-up study. 1991

J G Gauthier, and S Carrier
School of Psychology, Laval University, Sainte-Foy, Quebec, Canada.

The aim of the present study was two-fold: to assess the long-term effects of biofeedback on migraine, and to determine the extent to which additional treatment after biofeedback treatment is completed can affect follow-up results. Ninety-six women whose migraine had been treated through biofeedback either 2-3 years (shorter follow-up) or 6-7 years (longer follow-up) earlier were divided into four groups according to how long ago they had received their biofeedback treatment and whether or not they had received any additional treatment (whatever the nature) since the posttreatment assessment: shorter follow-up without additional treatment (n = 24), shorter follow-up with additional treatment (n = 22), longer follow-up without additional treatment (n = 24), and longer follow-up with additional treatment (n = 26). Subjects were asked to keep a headache diary for five weeks, as they had done during earlier assessments. Overall, results showed that migraine activity was significantly less at follow-up than at pretreatment. However, whether the observed long-term benefits could be attributed to biofeedback was unclear because medication was found to be as much in use at follow-up as at pretreatment. Results also indicated that 51% of the subjects did seek additional treatment between posttreatment and follow-up. Contrary to expectations, however, additional treatment was not associated with better therapeutic benefits at follow-up. The research and the clinical implications of those findings are discussed.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008881 Migraine Disorders A class of disabling primary headache disorders, characterized by recurrent unilateral pulsatile headaches. The two major subtypes are common migraine (without aura) and classic migraine (with aura or neurological symptoms). (International Classification of Headache Disorders, 2nd ed. Cephalalgia 2004: suppl 1) Acute Confusional Migraine,Headache, Migraine,Status Migrainosus,Abdominal Migraine,Cervical Migraine Syndrome,Hemicrania Migraine,Migraine,Migraine Headache,Migraine Variant,Sick Headache,Abdominal Migraines,Acute Confusional Migraines,Cervical Migraine Syndromes,Disorder, Migraine,Disorders, Migraine,Headache, Sick,Headaches, Migraine,Headaches, Sick,Hemicrania Migraines,Migraine Disorder,Migraine Headaches,Migraine Syndrome, Cervical,Migraine Syndromes, Cervical,Migraine Variants,Migraine, Abdominal,Migraine, Acute Confusional,Migraine, Hemicrania,Migraines,Migraines, Abdominal,Migraines, Acute Confusional,Migraines, Hemicrania,Sick Headaches,Variant, Migraine,Variants, Migraine
D011446 Prospective Studies Observation of a population for a sufficient number of persons over a sufficient number of years to generate incidence or mortality rates subsequent to the selection of the study group. Prospective Study,Studies, Prospective,Study, Prospective
D005500 Follow-Up Studies Studies in which individuals or populations are followed to assess the outcome of exposures, procedures, or effects of a characteristic, e.g., occurrence of disease. Followup Studies,Follow Up Studies,Follow-Up Study,Followup Study,Studies, Follow-Up,Studies, Followup,Study, Follow-Up,Study, Followup
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001676 Biofeedback, Psychology The therapy technique of providing the status of one's own AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM function (e.g., skin temperature, heartbeats, brain waves) as visual or auditory feedback in order to self-control related conditions (e.g., hypertension, migraine headaches). Biofeedback (Psychology),Bogus Physiological Feedback,False Physiological Feedback,Feedback, Psychophysiologic,Biofeedback,Feedback, Psychophysiological,Myofeedback,Psychophysiologic Feedback,Biofeedbacks,Biofeedbacks (Psychology),Biofeedbacks, Psychology,Bogus Physiological Feedbacks,False Physiological Feedbacks,Feedback, Bogus Physiological,Feedback, False Physiological,Feedbacks, Bogus Physiological,Feedbacks, False Physiological,Myofeedbacks,Physiological Feedback, Bogus,Physiological Feedback, False,Physiological Feedbacks, Bogus,Physiological Feedbacks, False,Psychology Biofeedback,Psychology Biofeedbacks
D013997 Time Factors Elements of limited time intervals, contributing to particular results or situations. Time Series,Factor, Time,Time Factor

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