Biobehavioral treatment, disability, and psychological effects of pediatric headache

Abstract

Headache is a common condition among children and adolescents, and it can result in considerable pain, distress, and functional disability. Lacking proper care, many children will continue to experience headaches into adulthood. These considerations point to the importance of prompt, effective, and early intervention for pediatric headache. Biobehavioral treatments are central to such intervention. From promotion of adherence to optimal use of abortive and prophylactic medications to health behaviors that reduce headache activity to biofeedback-assisted relaxation training, the addition of biobehavioral treatment components to a comprehensive pediatric headache care plan can lead to better initial clinical outcomes, may lessen the need for medication, and may help maintain effects over the long term. Attention to the effects of headache and the accompanying psychological distress is an equally important part of treatment. Indeed, outcomes should be measured in terms of pain parameters (headache frequency, duration, severity) and effect on functional disability and quality of life (school absences, mood, satisfaction with pain relief). Optimal care for children and adolescents with headache can be realized with collaboration among primary care practitioners and headache specialists such as child neurologists and pediatric behavioral medicine experts. Biobehavioral treatment is a foundation for provision of such care.