Clinical psychology issues in migraine headaches

Abstract

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.