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The Effect of the Definition of Menstrually-Related Headache on the Response to Biofeedback Treatment

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Abstract

Twelve women with either pure migraine headache (HA) or a combination of migraine and tension-type HA monitored HA activity over two menstrual cycles while noting onset of menstruation and onset of ovulation. They then received 12 sessions of thermal biofeedback (TBF) with adjunctive autogenic training. Six women with only tension-type HA participated in similar monitoring before receiving 9 sessions of progressive relaxation training.

Results for those with vascular HA showed a significant reduction in HA activity and a reduction in medication taken for HAs. Those with tension-type HA did not respond significantly to the relaxation training. Depending upon how one defined menstrually-related HAs among those with vascular HA, there either was, or was not, a differential effect of TBF on menstrual-cycle-related HA.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Stress and Anxiety Disorders, University at Albany, New York, USA

    Edward B. Blanchard & Mirihae Kim

  2. Dr. Kim is currently at Duksung Women’s University, Seoul, Korea

    Mirihae Kim

  3. Center for Stress and Anxiety Disorders, Social Science 230, University at Albany, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY, 12222

    Edward B. Blanchard

Authors
  1. Edward B. Blanchard
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  2. Mirihae Kim
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Correspondence to Edward B. Blanchard.

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Blanchard, E.B., Kim, M. The Effect of the Definition of Menstrually-Related Headache on the Response to Biofeedback Treatment. Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback 30, 53–63 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10484-005-2173-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10484-005-2173-z

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