EFFECT OF BIOFEEDBACK-ASSISTED RELAXATION ON MIGRAINE HEADACHE AND CHANGES IN CEREBRAL BLOOD-FLOW VELOCITY IN THE MIDDLE CEREBRAL-ARTERY

Twenty-three patients with diagnosed migraine headaches were randomly assigned to a biofeedback-assisted relaxation therapy group or to a gr oup who relaxed on their own. The biofeedback trained group decreased pain and medication more than the self relax group. Cerebral blood flo w velocity was measured in the middle cerebral artery with transcrania l doppler (TCD). The trained group significantly reduced systolic and mean cerebral blood flow velocity on the side with the highest velocit y.