Group Treatment of Chronic Tension Headaches

Abstract

A study was conducted in a group format utilizing: (1) a behavioral package,(2) traditional psychotherapy, and (3) self-monitoring to compare the relative effects of these treatments on a chronic muscle-contraction (tension) headache population. Subjects were recruited through newspaper articles, radio announcements, and physician referrals. A total of 15 subjects were selected for participation. Subjects monitored their level of relaxation, frequency of headaches, severity and duration of headaches, type and amount of medication taken, and the degree to which the pain had disabled them. Significant improvement occurred across all these measures within the behavioral group; neither of the other two groups showed significant improvement. Subjects also monitored latency from pain onset to medication consumption and their ability to predict headaches. No significant change was found on these measures in any group.