Table 44Chronic tension headache: psychological therapies

Author, Year, Followup, Pain Duration, Study QualityInterventionPopulationFunction and Pain OutcomesOther Outcomes

Blanchard, 1990

1 month

Duration of pain: mean 14.2 years

Poor

A. Cognitive Stress Coping Training + PMR (n=17): 11, 45-90 minute sessions once or twice per week for 8 weeks

B. PMR alone (n=22): 10, 30-70 minute sessions twice weekly for 3 weeks followed by once weekly for 3 weeks with a final session at week 8

C. Pseudomeditation (attention control) (n=19): body awareness and mental control training; 11 sessions over 8 weeks, 40-45 minutes each

D. Waitlist (n=19): monitoring via phone, clinical visits and patient diaries.

A vs. B vs. C vs. D

Age: 38 vs. 43 vs. 39 vs. 37 years

Female: 56% vs. 58% vs. 45% vs. 66%

Mean duration of chronicity: 13.0 vs. 13.9 vs. 15.3 vs. 14.3 years

Baseline Headache Index Scores: mean 5.82 vs. 5.63 vs. 5.23 vs. 5.05

Baseline Medication Index Scores: mean 39.8 vs. 16.9 vs. 12.1 vs. 24.0

A vs. C

1 month

≥50% improvement (i.e., reduction) in headache frequency: 62.5% vs. 43.7%; 1.43 (95% 0.81 to 1.97)

Headache Index Scores: 3.2 vs. 4.6; difference −1.4 (95% −4.3 to 1.5)

A vs. D

1 month

≥50% improvement (i.e., reduction) in headache frequency: 62.5% vs. 20.0%; 3.13 (95% 0.91 to 2.45)

Headache Index Scores: 3.2 vs. 4.5; difference −1.3 (95% −3.9 to 1.4)

B vs. C

1 month

≥50% improvement (i.e., reduction) in headache frequency: 31.6% vs. 43.7%; 0.72 (95% 0.65 to 1.69)

Headache Index Scores: 3.8 vs. 4.6; difference −0.8 (95% −3.2 to 1.6)

B vs. D

1 month

≥50% improvement (i.e., reduction) in headache frequency: 31.6% vs. 20%; 1.58 (95% 0.75 to 2.11)

Headache Index Scores: 3.8 vs. 4.5; difference −0.6 (95% −2.7 to 1.5)

A vs. C

1 month

Medication Index Scores: 20.7 vs. 8.3; difference 12.4 (95% −6.8 to 31.6)

A vs. D

1 month

Medication Index Scores: 20.7 vs. 22.5; difference −1.8 (95% −23.8 to 20.2)

B vs. C

1 month

Medication Index Scores: 9.8 vs. 8.3; difference 1.5 (95% −6.8 to 9.8)

B vs. D

1 month

Medication Index Scores: 9.8 vs. 22.5; difference −12.7 (95% −25.6 to 0.21)

Holroyd, 1991

1 month

Duration of pain: mean 10.7 years

Poor

A. (n=19): 3, 1 hour sessions over 8 weeks

B. Amitriptyline therapy (n=17): Individualized dosage at 25, 50, or 75 mg/day for 8 weeks

A + B

Age: 32.3 years

Female: 80%

A vs. B

Baseline % of Headache-free days: 18.0 vs. 18.5

Baseline Headache Index scores (0−10): 2.17 vs. 2.04

Baseline Headache Pain Peak scores (0−10): 6.41 vs. 6.36

A vs. B

1 month

Proportion with >66% reduction in headaches (substantial improvement): 37% vs. 18%; 2.09 (95% 0.79 to 2.23)

Proportion with 33-66% reduction in headaches (moderate improvement): 53% vs. 35%; 1.49 (95% 0.80 to 2.03)

% of Headache-free days: 54.7 vs. 42.3; difference 12.4 (95% −8.06 to 32.86)

Headache Index scores: 0.96 vs. 1.49; difference −0.53 (95% −1.14 to 0.08)

Headache Peak scores: 4.33 vs. 4.55; difference −0.22 (95% −1.70 to 1.26)

A vs. B

1 month

(0-63): 5.16 vs. 5.56; difference −0.4 (95% −3.96 to 3.16)

STPI Anxiety (20-80): 18.37 vs. 19.06; difference −0.69 (95% −3.99 to 2.62)

STPI Anger (20-80): 19.47 vs. 17.44; difference 2.03 (95% −1.98 to 6.04)

(scale ): 16.05 vs. 20.50; difference −4.45 95% −9.78 to 0.87)

Analgesic Tablets: 0.26 vs. 0.82; difference −0.56 (95% −1.16 to 0.04)

Holroyd, 2001

1 and 6 months

Duration of pain: mean 11.8 years

Poor

A. Stress Management Therapy + Placebo (n=34): 3, 1 hour sessions

B. Placebo (n=26)

Treatment Protocol: identical to group C

C. Antidepressant Medications (n=44):

Low starting dose (12.5 mg/day increased to 25mg, then 50mg) with the possibility to switch to nortriptyline

A vs. B vs. C

Age: 37 vs. 38 vs. 36 years

Female: 80% vs. 79% vs. 66%

Caucasian: 91% vs. 98% vs. 98%

Duration of pain: 12.3 vs. 11.1 vs. 11.9 years

Headache frequency, days/month: 26.5 vs. 26.1 vs. 25.1

Baseline Headache Index (0−10): 2.8 vs. 2.7 vs. 2.8

Baseline Days/month with at least moderately severe headache (≥5 on 0−10 scale): 13.5 vs. 13.5 vs. 14.1

A vs. B

1 month

Days/month with at least moderately severe headache: difference 2.5 (95% −0.1 to 5.2)

Headache Disability Inventory (0−100): difference 7.3 (95% 1.6 to 13.0)

Headache Index: difference 0.46 (95% 0.02 to 0.89)

6 months

Patients who experienced ≥50% reductions in Headache Index Scores: 35% vs. 29%; 1.18 (95% 0.79 to 1.79)

Days/month with at least moderately severe headache: difference 5.1 (95% 2.3 to 8.0)

Headache Disability Inventory: difference 9.3 (95% 3.5 to 15.1)

Headache Index: difference 0.79 (95% 0.30 to 1.28)

A vs. C

1 month

Days/month with at least moderately severe headache: difference −3.5 (95% −6.1 to −0.9)

Headache Disability Inventory: difference 0.1 (95% −5.6 to 5.7)

Mean Headache Index: difference −0.54 (95% −0.97 to −0.012)

6 months

Patients who experienced >50% reductions in Headache Index Scores: 35% vs. 38%; 0.92 (95% 0.71 to 1.54)

Days/month with at least moderately severe headache: difference 0.1 (95% −2.7 to 2.9)

Headache Disability Inventory: difference 2.4 (95% −3.3 to 8.0)

Headache Index: difference −0.13 (95% −0.61 to 0.35)

A vs. B

1 month

Weighted analgesic use: difference −1.7 (95% −12.0 to 8.6)

6 months

Weighted analgesic use: difference 11.8 (95% 1.5 to 22.1)

A vs. C

1 month

Weighted analgesic use: difference −19.4 (95% −29.5 to −9.3)

6 months

Weighted analgesic use: difference −6.2 (95% −16.2 to 3.8)

= Beck Depression Inventory; = cognitive-behavioral therapy; = confidence interval; = not reported; PMR = Progressive Muscle Relaxation; = risk ratio; STPI = State-Trait Personality Inventory; = visual analog scale; = Wahler Physical Symptom Inventory

a

Unless otherwise noted, followup time is calculated from the end of the treatment period

From: Results

Cover of Noninvasive Nonpharmacological Treatment for Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review Update
Noninvasive Nonpharmacological Treatment for Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review Update [Internet].
Comparative Effectiveness Review, No. 227.
Skelly AC, Chou R, Dettori JR, et al.

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