The present study compared the efficacy of two active treatments, relaxation
training and cognitive coping, with a non-specific placebo control in the treatment
of 42 children and adolescents with migraine. The first treatment is a simplified
version of progressive deep muscle relaxation; the second, a form of cognitive
restructuring involving the alteration of dysfunctional thought processes. The results
demonstrated that each active treatment was superior to the non-specific intervention
in reducing overall headache activity and frequency but not duration or
intensity. There were no differences between the experimental groups, and both
continued to improve through a 16-week follow-up period, but the control group did
not.
Initial level of headache severity was an important factor in treatment outcome,
with children with severe headaches responding better than those with milder
headaches.
Possible reasons for the differential treatment effects are discussed, and the
implications for future research are considered.