Affiliations: Institut für Medizinische Psychologie und
Medizinische Soziologie, Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Campus
Kiel, Diesterwegstraße 10–12, 24113 Kiel
Note: [] Korrespondenzadresse: PD Dr. Peter Kropp, Institut für
Medizinische Psychologie und Medizinische Soziologie, Universitätsklinikum
Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Diesterwegstraße 10–12, 24113
Kiel. Tel.: 043-65946-33; Fax: 0431-65946-39; E-mail:
[email protected]
Abstract: Migraine – Pathophysiological aspects and non-pharmacological
treatment The pathophysiology of migraine is complex. According to a
diathesis-stress-model, stressful stimuli trigger a migraine attack on the
background of a primary neurological function deficite (diathesis). Although
the discurbances are of a neurological nature, recommendations for the
treatment of migraine include both pharmacological and non-pharmacological
approaches. Non-pharmacological approaches enable the patient to a higher
responsibility andsflf-efficacy in coping with migraine. Therefore, the active
involvement of the patient in the treatment is obligatory in all psychological
pain therapy methods. The focus of non-pharmacological therapy is on emotional,
cognitive, behavioural and social factors of migraine, with the aim to modify
unfavourable habits and migraine attack-inducing factors. Among
non-pharmacological methods, counselling, relaxation training, biofeedback and
cognitive-behavioural treatments are employed. The long-term effects of these
methods are comparable to those of prophylactic pharmacological treatment.
Combination of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment leads to even
higher efficacy and is often indicated. In case of headache in children,
behavioural therapy should be the method of first choice. In this paper,
empirically proven methods of psychological pain therapy in migraine are
presented.
Keywords: Migraine, psychological pain therapy, behavioural therapy, biofeedback, relaxation training
