A retrospective, follow-up study of biofeedback-assisted relaxation therapy in patients with posttraumatic headache

Abstract

Although biofeedback in the treatment of migraine and tension-type headache has been widely researched, there is little research examining biofeedback therapy in posttraumatic headache (PTH). In this retrospective study, 40 subjects with PTH who had received biofeedback-assisted relaxation at our headache clinic were questioned at least 3 months following the completion of therapy. Subjects were queried about improvements in headache, increases in ability to relax and cope with pain, and overall benefits, lasting effectiveness, and continued use of biofeedback in daily life. Results indicate 53% reported at least moderate improvement in headaches; 80% reported at least moderate improvement in ability to relax and cope with pain; 93% found biofeedback helpful to some degree; 85% felt headache relief achieved through biofeedback had continued at least somewhat; and 95% stated they were continuing to use biofeedback skills in daily life. A correlation analysis revealed a negative relationship between response to biofeedback and increased chronicity of the disorder. In other words, the more chronic the disorder, the poorer the response to treatment. A stepwise regression analysis found that chronicity of the disorder and number of treatment sessions significantly affected response to treatment. Data suggest that biofeedback-assisted relaxation should at least be considered when planning treatment strategies for posttraumatic headache.

Characteristics and Treatment of Headache After Traumatic Brain Injury

“…We identified ten articles that specifically addressed the treatment of headache after TBI. [17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26] Among these ten studies, two were single case reports, three were case series, and the remaining five were either retrospective or prospective studies without controls. Details regarding the type and the design of these studies are described in Table 4.…”

“…20 Two uncontrolled studies investigated the effectiveness of relaxation and biofeedback in PTH. 22,23 They both showed favorable results. In a prospective, nonrandomized, uncontrolled study, a combined therapy of medication, relaxation, and biofeedback showed the most dramatic improvement.…”

EEG Evaluation of traumatic brain injury and EEG biofeedback treatment

“…A similar finding of QEEG normalization following EEG biofeedback was reported by Byers (1995), tinius and tinius (2001), Bounias et al (2001Bounias et al ( , 2002, Wing (2001), Laibow et al (2001), and Schoenberger et al (2001). Ham and packard (1996) evaluated EEG biofeedback in 40 patients with post-traumatic head ache. they reported that 53% showed at least moderate improvement in headaches, 80% reported moderate improvement in ability to relax and cope with pain, and 93% found biofeedback helpful to some degree.…”

Complementary and integrative medicine in pain management

“…In general, chronicity of posttraumatic pain predicts a poorer response for improvement in therapeutic paradigms dominated by BF. 30 Another challenging population of headache patients is the group who use high doses of multiple classes of medication. Withdrawal of medication, which can be accomplished, although with diffi culty, on an outpatient basis, should precede treatment in this group.…”