AN INVESTIGATION OF THREE BE'R"AVIORAL APPROACHES USED IN THE TRFA'IMENT OF CHRONIC MUSCLE CONrRACTION HEADACHES

The purpose. The purpose of this research was to determine the e~fectiveness of three behavioral methods (Relaxation Training, Bfofeedback, and Systematic Desensitization) of treating muscle contraction headache pain in individual chronic headache patients. Procedure. Nine chronic muscle contraction headache patients were treated with behavioral methods as an adjunct to regular medical treatment at the:Mercy Hospital Pain Center. Three subjects received relaxation training, three received biofeedback in addition to relaxation, and three received systematic desensitization in addition to relaxation and biofeedback. Headache intensity of all the subjects was m:mitored for a week prior to treatment, during treatment and for four weeks following treatment. Follow-up data was compared with baseline data to produce a percentage improvement score for each subject. Findings. Three of these subjects treated with desensitization in addition to other behavioral methods in contrast to one of thre