Biofeedback Therapy for Migraine

Abstract

Biofeedback had gained wide acceptance as a usuful technique in the treatment of migraine and muscle contraction headache (MCH). To investigate relationship between effectiveness of biofeedback and psychological factor, the psychological tests were administered to 59 persons with chronic headaches who received biofeedback training to obtain their headache relief at the Divison of Phychosomatic Medicine of Toho Univ. School of Medicine. Each of the patients was given Yatabe-Guilford test (Y-G test), Manifest Anxiety Scale (MAS) and Self-Rating Questionnaire for Depression (SRQ-D) at their initial visit and after training was concluded each patients was rated as to their ability to use our biofeedback technique to control headache effectively. A patient was considered successful if his headache activity was reduced by 51% or greater. Among the 59 patients there were 22 with migraine, 37 with MCH. Patients with migraine were trained with skin temperature biofeedback in the usual finger warming procedure without autogenic phrases. In sixteen (84%) of these patients excluding three dropouts, significant relief from migraine headache was obtained. 27 patients of 37 with MCH performed EMG biofeedback training. A favorable response was elicited in nineteen (70%) patients. Comparisons by psychological test between successful and unsuccessful groups were made. 1) A favorable response to biofeedback therapy was elicited most frequently in subjects of Y-G personality type D, and least in those of personality type E. There was significant difference between extrovert subjects and introvert ones. 2) To compare by the anxiety grade, it was found that biofeedback therapy was more effective in the lower anxiety group than in higher anxiety group significantly. However subjects with migraine often responded to biofeedback therapy even if they had high anxiety state. 3) A comparison was made of the rate of response to biofeedback therapy in 3 groups of subjects as divided according to the ration of depression. It was found that subjects in the moderate depressive group most frequently responded to the biofeedback therapy. It seemed that further investigation was needed as to the mechanisms, relationship with psychological factors, and indication of biofeedback therapy for headaches.