Abstract
Studies were made to evalute biofeedback therapy for migraine and muscle contraction headache. The results were as follows.1) Fifteen individuals suffering from migraine headache were trained by skin temperature biofeedback in the usual finger warming procedure with the omission of autogenic phrases. In ten (76.9 per cent) of these patients excluding two drop-outs, significant relief from migraine headache was obtained.2) EMG biofeedback treatment was performed in 27 patients with muscle contraction headache. A favorable response was elicited in fifteen (71.4 per cent) of those excluding six drop-outs.3) Cornell Medical Index (CMI), Yatabe-Guilford test (Y-G test), Manifest Anxiety Scale (MAS) and Self-Rating Questionnaire for Depression (SRQ-D) were administered to 42 patients who received the biofeedback therapy at their visit. There was a tendency that patients with muscle contraction headache showed area IV in CMI and type E in Y-G test more frequently than those with migraine. They showed higher scores in MAS and/or SRQ-D than those with migraine.4) Comparisons by psychological tests between respondents and nonrespondents were made. There was a tendency that respondents for EMG biofeedback among those with muscle contarction headache showed lower scores in MAS and /or SRQ-D than total of those.5) The effect of biofeedback on the automic nervous system by plasma Dopamine-β-Hydroxylase (DβH) activity was studies in three migraine headache patients. Plasma DβH activity was measured before and after each training session first, 4 weeks and 8 weeks later. Plasma DβH activity was reduced at the training session 8 weeks later.Additionally was reported two cases : one was a migraine patient whose headache activity decreased by EMG biofeedback therapy, and the other was a patient with muscle contraction headache who was first treated with EMG biofeedback training without positive response and treated later with skin temperature biofeedback with positive response.
