[Efficacy of combined kineso- and psychotherapy in the treatment of patients with migraine]

Abstract

The study aimed at determining the efficacy of combined kineso- and psychotherapy in the treatment of patients with migraine in between-attacks periods. Forty-one patients with migraine (3 males, 38 females, mean age 38.2 +/- 1.5 years) were examined. The patients were randomly divided into 2 age-matched groups. No significant between-group differences in the intensity and duration of migraine attacks, autonomic and psychological status and level of tolerability to physical loading were found. The patients of group 1 (23) recurred individual kineso- and psychotherapy, and patients of group 2 (18) received a course of standard physical therapy and explanatory psychotherapy. After the treatment course, a significant decrease in intensity of headaches of tension, increased bicycle exercise tolerance, equalizing of the ratio between activities of ergo- and trophotropic systems, sympathic and parasympathic tones evaluated by mathematical analysis of heart rhythm variability, a decrease of the level of emotional tension measured by psycho diagnostic testing were observed in both groups. In the patients of group 1, global estimation of therapeutic effect (2.7 +/- 0.2) was significantly higher (p < 0.003), comparing to those of group 2 (1.8 +/- 0.2). Two months after treatment finishing, there was a reduction of migraine attacks frequency in both groups without significant between-group differences in regression extent of this index. The results obtained indicate efficacy of combined physical therapy and psychocorrection in the treatment of migraine patients. Moreover, individual approach to kineso- and psychotherapy improves the immediate results of the treatment.