Jm. Engel et al., THE DURABILITY OF RELAXATION TRAINING IN PEDIATRIC HEADACHE MANAGEMENT, The Occupational therapy journal of research, 14(3), 1994, pp. 183-190
The long-term effects of relaxation training for pediatric headache di
sorders was determined for all four original participants from a multi
ple baseline across subjects design. Long-term follow-up data were col
lected at a mean of 81 months post-treatment. All participants reporte
d some increases in headache activity from 12-month to long-term follo
w-up, but at relatively low levels compared with baseline. Headache-fr
ee days were 51% to 86% fewer Headache severity was 81% to 94% better,
and headache duration was 75% to 94% better than baseline levels. Med
ication used was limited to over-the-counter analgesics on an as-neede
d basis for all subjects. Three subjects (75%) stated that they would
recommend relaxation training to other individuals experiencing headac
hes. The results of this study support the conclusion that relaxation
training is an effective long-term treatment for migraine, tension, an
d mixed headache disorders originating in childhood or adolescence.