The Role of Parent Training in the Cognitive Behavioral Treatment of Children's Headaches

Abstract

This study reports on the effects of a cognitive-behavioral treatment program for two pre-adolescent children with chronic headaches. The program involved a combination of training the child in self-management skills (e.g. relaxation training, attention training, cognitive self-statements), and training for parents in how to prompt and reinforce children's self-help behaviors. Self-report assessment utilized a headache diary, a general activity measure, and a depression measure, whilst parental report measures were taken of the child's headache behavior and contingent parental care-giving behavior. Child headache behavior at school was also recorded by the child's teacher. The results indicated that by six months follow-up the subjects had improved in headache intensity 100% and 61% respectively, and in headache frequency 100% and 84% respectively. Both subjects also showed decreases in headache behaviors and reductions in contingent care-giving behavior by parents. Overall, the results suggest the potential usefulness of systematic involvement of parents in cognitive-behavioral treatment of children's chronic headaches.