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Psychologic and behavioral aspects of chronic headache
1Department of Psychology, University of West Florida, Pensacola.
Neurologic Clinics
|November 1, 1990
Summary
Understanding patient expectations and psychological factors is crucial for effective headache management. Combining non-pharmacologic therapies with medication offers the best clinical outcomes for most headache types.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Psychology
- Behavioral Medicine
Background:
- Physicians must recognize patient expectations and psychological needs.
- Psychological and personality variables significantly influence patient care and treatment outcomes.
- Environmental factors play a role in headache pain behaviors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the importance of patient-centered care in headache management.
- To review the efficacy of non-pharmacologic headache treatments.
- To identify factors influencing treatment outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Review of empirical data on non-pharmacologic headache treatments.
- Analysis of the impact of psychological and environmental factors.
- Evaluation of combined pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic approaches.
Main Results:
- Non-pharmacologic treatments like biofeedback, relaxation, and stress coping are effective adjunctive or alternative therapies.
- Combined medication and non-pharmacologic treatments yield the best clinical outcomes.
- Specific headache types (cluster, menstrual, post-traumatic) respond less to non-drug therapies alone.
Conclusions:
- A holistic approach considering psychological and environmental factors is essential for headache care.
- Non-pharmacologic interventions are valuable tools in headache management.
- Treatment success is influenced by patient-specific variables such as age and personality.