COGNITIVE-BEHAVIOR THERAPY OF MIGRAINE

Abstract

Among patients with episodic and chronic migraine there are a lot of patients with resistant forms that do not answer the standard therapy. The basic causes of the challenge are analgesic drugs abuse, comorbid psychiatric disorders, sleep disorders and incorrect concept of the disease. The combination of pharmaceutical treatment with non-drug methods is the basis of modern approach to migraine treatment. But in Russia non-drug treatment means using physiotherapy, massage and needle reflex therapy. These methods are not included in international therapeutic recommendations and did not prove its efficacy in migraine treatment. In the world practice non- drug methods are cognitive behavioral therapy, biofeedback and relax method (level of evidence A). Cognitive behavioral therapy is a type of short-term psychotherapy widely used in headaches treatment. The combination of cognitive behavioral therapy with standard medicines increases the efficacy of migraine treatment and supports clinical effect even after drug therapy ceasing. The article presents the evidences of high efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy in migraine treatment.