ABSTRACT
Introduction: The treatment challenge of adolescents with
chronic daily headaches (CDHs) creates an urgent need for
evidence-based interventions. Therefore the purpose of
this pilot study was to evaluate the acceptability, feasibility,
and preliminary effects of a brief cognitive behavioral skills
building intervention with 36 adolescents, 13 to 17 years of
age, who had CDHs and mild to moderate depressive symptoms.
Methods: Participants were randomly assigned either to the
Creating Opportunities for Personal Empowerment–Headache
Education Program (COPE-HEP) or to a headache education
comparison group.
Results: Adolescents and parents found the COPE-HEP to be
highly acceptable. Medium to large positive effects were
demonstrated on the adolescents’ depression in both groups
and on anxiety and beliefs in the COPE-HEP group. COPEHEP
offered additional benefits of a larger decrease in
adolescent anxiety over time and stronger beliefs in the
teens’ ability to manage their headaches.
Discussion: Adolescents with CDHs and elevated depressive/
anxiety symptoms should be offered headache hygiene education
plus cognitive-behavioral skills building interventions.