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Investigating Pain-Related Avoidance Behavior using a Robotic Arm-Reaching Paradigm

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Fear, Avoidance, and Disability in Headache Disorders.

Daniel G Rogers¹, Tracy A Protti¹, Todd A Smitherman²

¹Department of Psychology, University of Mississippi, 207 Peabody, Oxford, MS, 38677, USA.

Current Pain and Headache Reports

|May 31, 2020

Summary

Avoidance behaviors significantly worsen headache disability and impact quality of life. Targeting these patterns through therapies like acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) shows promise for improving patient outcomes.

Keywords:

Avoidance Disability Exposure Fear of pain Headache Migraine

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Area of Science:

Psychology
Neurology
Pain Management

Background:

Avoidance behavior is central to chronic pain and headache disorders.
Cognitive factors in headaches are often maintained by avoidance.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the role of avoidance behavior in headache-related disability.
To discuss clinical implications for headache management.

Main Methods:

Literature review of psychological perspectives on headache disorders.
Analysis of studies on avoidance behavior and its impact on pain and quality of life.

Main Results:

Avoidance of triggers, exacerbating stimuli, and life domains negatively impacts headache progression, disability, and psychiatric symptoms.
Interventions like therapeutic exposure, mindfulness, and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) show potential but require further research.
Functional impairment is a critical treatment outcome in headache disorders.

Conclusions:

Understanding avoidance patterns is crucial for a comprehensive approach to headache disorders.
Addressing avoidance behavior can improve quality of life and reduce disability in headache patients.
Future research should focus on larger trials for avoidance-targeted therapies.