Integrated care for migraine and chronic tension-type headaches: A prospective observational study

Abstract

Background and purpose: This prospective observational study aimed to investigate the effects of an interdisciplinary multimodal integrated care program in patients with chronic migraine and/or tension-type headache. Materials and methods: Patients (n = 158) underwent inpatient, outpatient and/or semi-stationary treatment including conventional as well as complementary headache treatment. Headache frequency was defined as the primary outcome; secondary outcomes included pain (VAS, PPS), medication use, quality of life (SF-36), function (HDI, PSFS), depression and anxiety (HADS), and pain self-efficacy (PSEQ). Results: Headache frequency decreased from 17.0 ± 8.8 days/month at treatment start to 11.4 ± 9.2 at treatment end and to 10.6 ± 9.3 at 6-month follow-up (p < 0.001). All other outcome measures also improved across the course of the study (all p < 0.001). Conclusions: An integrated care approach based on integrative medicine improved headache symptoms and functioning in patients with chronic migraine and/or tension-type headache. Interdisciplinary multimodal treatment approaches seem to adequately address the specific treatment needs of headache patients.