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Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Headache Disorders in Children and Adolescents

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Handbook of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Pediatric Medical Conditions

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Abstract

Headache is the most prevalent chronic pain complaint in pediatrics. Chronic headache, including migraine and tension-type headache, affects 3–5% of the population, and can be particularly detrimental to child and adolescent development due to the negative impact on school functioning. Standard medication treatment for chronic pediatric headache is limited, and results are no better than placebo. CBT, alone or combined with medication, is effective at substantially reducing headache days and improving the functioning of children and adolescents with chronic headache. CBT for pediatric headache involves pain coping skills, biofeedback, cognitive restructuring, and addressing psychosocial stressors that maintain the headache cycle.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Fictional dialogue based on interactions with many adolescent patients with chronic headache.

  2. 2.

    Fictional dialogue based on interactions with many adolescent patients with chronic headache.

  3. 3.

    Fictional dialogue based on interactions with parents of children with chronic headache.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pediatric Headache Program, Division of Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesia, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Waltham, MA, USA

    Karen Kaczynski

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  1. Karen Kaczynski
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Correspondence to Karen Kaczynski .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Child Emphasis Area, Palo Alto University, Palo Alto, CA, USA

    Robert D. Friedberg

  2. Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Stead Family Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital, Iowa City, IA, USA

    Jennifer K. Paternostro

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Kaczynski, K. (2019). Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Headache Disorders in Children and Adolescents. In: Friedberg, R.D., Paternostro, J.K. (eds) Handbook of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Pediatric Medical Conditions. Autism and Child Psychopathology Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-21683-2_17

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