Electromyographic biofeedback-assisted relaxation training in juvenile episodic tension-type headache: clinical outcome at three-year follow-up

Although tension-type headaches are more common than migraine in children a nd adolescents, the limited studies that have been conducted with juveniles have focused chiefly on migraine treatment and its course. This report des cribes the clinical benefits for an electromyographic biofeedback-assisted relaxation treatment program for a group of children and adolescents experi encing episodic tension-type headache and examines whether the clinical pre sentation changed for headaches that remained. Of the 54 consecutive juveni les who began treatment, 38 completed and were available to participate in the 3-year follow-up. Headaches improved measurably immediately following t reatment, with further gains being evident through 3 years. The few headach es that did occur at 3 years were nearly identical symptom-for-symptom to t hose that were experienced prior to treatment. Thus report suggests that be havioural treatment is a viable and durable intervention for juvenile episo dic tension-type headache, but more definitive claims cannot be made due to the uncontrolled nature of the study. Further investigation is warranted.