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Updated: Sep 29, 2026
Psychophysiological Stress Assessment Using Biofeedback
Published on: July 31, 2009
Biofeedback in the treatment of headache and other childhood pain
Christiane Hermann1, Edward B Blanchard
1Department of Clinical and Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Heidelberg, Central Institute of Mental Health, J5, D-68159 Mannheim, Germany. chermann@zi-mannheim.de
Insights
Biofeedback (BFB) effectively treats pediatric headaches, particularly migraines and tension headaches. This review summarizes BFB
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Psychology
- Pain Management
- Neurology
Background:
- Biofeedback (BFB) has been studied for pediatric pain since the 1980s.
- Research has primarily focused on childhood migraine treatment.
- Recent studies explore BFB for pediatric tension headaches.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review BFB efficacy in treating childhood headaches (HA).
- To emphasize treatment outcomes and success maintenance.
- To explore potential mechanisms of BFB treatment effects.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of published studies on BFB for childhood HAs.
- Analysis of treatment outcomes and long-term effectiveness.
- Examination of proposed mechanisms underlying BFB's therapeutic effects.
Main Results:
- BFB demonstrates efficacy in treating pediatric migraine and tension headaches.
- Studies highlight the importance of treatment maintenance for sustained success.
- Evidence suggests specific physiological mechanisms mediate BFB's pain-reducing effects.
Conclusions:
- Biofeedback is a viable non-pharmacological treatment for childhood headaches.
- Further research is needed to refine BFB protocols and understand mechanisms.
- Addressing specific challenges in pediatric pain management with BFB is crucial.
Abstract:
Since the first biofeedback (BFB) studies on pediatric pain were published in the early 1980s, most of the studies have focused on the treatment of pediatric migraine. More recently, BFB has also been evaluated in the treatment of tension headache in children. Not surprisingly, most of what we know about the efficacy and mechanisms of BFB in the treatment of children's pain problems concerns the treatment of childhood headache (HA). In this review, we provide a detailed summary of studies that have evaluated BFB in the treatment of childhood HAs with an emphasis on treatment outcome and maintenance of treatment success. Moreover, findings and hypotheses with regard to the mechanisms that may mediate the treatment effects of BFB are addressed. Finally, we discuss specific issues relating to the treatment of pain in children with BFB and outline future directions of research.
