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Clinical Psychology Issues in Migraine Headaches

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 December 2014

Patrick J. McGrath
Patrick J. McGrath*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Pediatrics and Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Pain Service, IWK Grace Health Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
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Abstract

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The important developments in our understanding and harnessing the biology of migraine have not diminished the need to consider the psychology of migraine. Psychological treatments especially relaxation training and biofeedback have been well validated as effective in treating frequent migraine. When the frequency and severity of migraine warrants more than analgesics, these treatments are the first line treatment for adults who cannot or do not wish to take abortive or prophylactic medications and for adolescents. The use of psychological interventions to enhance compliance to treatment or treatment effects is an underutilized resource. Psychological measurement is also critical in development and understanding of quality of life scales and the examination of decision-making by patients in taking medication. Modern clinical psychology has much to offer in the study of migraine and the amelioration of suffering from this common problem.

Résumé

RÉSUMÉ

Les développements importants dans notre compréhension et notre maîtrise de la biologie de la migraine n’ont pas altéré la nécessité de considérer la psychologie de la migraine. Les traitements psychologiques, surtout l’entraînement à la relaxation et à la rétroaction biologique ont été validés adéquatement comme étant efficaces dans le traitement des accès fréquents de migraine. Quand la fréquence et la sévérité de la migraine justifie la prescription de médicaments autres que des analgésiques, ces traitements sont indiqués en première ligne pour les adultes qui ne peuvent pas ou ne veulent pas prendre un médicament faisant avorter la crise ou la prévenant et pour les adolescents. L’utilisation des interventions psychologiques pour augmenter la compliance au traitement ou les effets du traitement est une ressource sous utilisée. L’évaluation psychologique est également un aspect important pour le développement et la compréhension des échelles de qualité de vie et l’examen de la prise de décision par les patients qui prennent une médication. La psychologie clinique moderne a beaucoup à offrir à l’étude de la migraine et à l’amélioration du fardeau de souffrance dû à ce problème fréquent.

Type
Research Article
Information
Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences , Volume 26 , Issue 3 , November 1999 , pp. 33 - 36
Copyright
Copyright © The Canadian Journal of Neurological 1999

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