Skip to main content
Log in

Biofeedback applications to migraine and tension headaches: A double-blinded outcome study

  • Original Articles
  • Published:
Biofeedback and Self-regulation Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The efficacy of progressive relaxation, fingertip temperature training, and EMG training of the frontalis muscles was tested against chronic migraine and tension headaches in a double-blinded 3×2 design. All 56 subjects reported being conditioned in the course of the nine 1/2-hour training sessions. Detailed records of perceived severity and duration of the headaches were maintained by the subjects before the study and for at least 3 months after the training period. While even a conservativeF revealed a diminution of perceived severity, of hours/month of headache, and of an index conceived by Budzynski, Stoyva, Adler, and Mullaney (1973), across time, at beyond the .05 level of significance, no specific treatment emerged as clearly most effective for either type of headache. Over time, however, progressive relaxation was not as good as the other procedures in reducing the number of hours/month of headache.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alexander, A. B. & Smith, D. D. Clinical applications of EMG biofeedback. In R. J. Gatchel & K. P. Price (Eds.),Clinical applications of biofeedback: Appraisal and status. New York: Pergamon Press, 1979.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beecher, H. K.Measurement of subjective responses: Quantitative effects of drugs. New York: Oxford University Press, 1959.

    Google Scholar 

  • Budzynski, T., Stoyva, J. Adler, C., & Mullaney, D. EMG biofeedback and tension headache: A controlled outcome study.Psychosomatic Medicine 1973,35 484–496.

    Google Scholar 

  • Editorial. Biofeedback and tension headache.Lancet, 1980,2, 898–899.

  • Friar, L., & Beatty, J. Migraine: Management by trained control of vasoconstriction.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 1976,44 46–53.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gatchel, R. J., & Price, K. P. (Eds.).Clinical applications of biofeedback: Appraisal and status. New York: Pergamon Press, 1979.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jessup, B. A. Neufeld, R. W. J., & Merskey, H. Biofeedback therapy for headache and other pain: An evaluative review.Pain 1979,7 225–270.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kunkel, R. S. Mixed headaches. In O. Appenzeller,Pathogenesis and treatment of headache. Jamaica, New York: Spectrum, 1976, Pp. 109–114.

    Google Scholar 

  • Larson, E. B., Omen, G. S., & Lewis, H. Diagnostic evaluation of headache—Impact of computerized tomography and cost-effectiveness.Journal of the American Medical Association 1980,243 359–362.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller, N. E., & Dworkin, B. R. Critical issues in therapeutic applications of biofeedback. In G. E. Schwartz & J. Beatty (Eds.),Biofeedback theory and research. New York: Academic Press, 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nuechterlein, K. H., & Holroyd, J. C. Biofeedback in the treatment of tension headache—Current status.Archives of General Psychiatry 1980,37 866–873.

    Google Scholar 

  • Runck, B.Biofeedback—Issues in treatment assessment. Rockville, Maryland: NIMH, 1980. Pp. 146–147.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sargent, J. D., Green, E. E., & Walters, E. D. The use of autogenic feedback training in a pilot study of migraine and tension headaches.Headache 1972,12 120–124.

    Google Scholar 

  • Snyder, C., & Noble, M. Operant conditioning of vasoconstriction.Journal of Experimental Psychology 1967,77 262–268.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stern, R. M., & Pavlovski, R. P. Operant conditioning of vasoconstriction: A verification.Journal of Experimental Psychology 1974,102 330–332.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Larry W. Henriksen assisted in the statistical analyses.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Daly, E.J., Donn, P.A., Galliher, M.J. et al. Biofeedback applications to migraine and tension headaches: A double-blinded outcome study. Biofeedback and Self-Regulation 8, 135–152 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01000544

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01000544

Keywords

Navigation