Recurrent Tension Headache in Adolescents Treated with Self-Help Relaxation Training and a Muscle Relaxant Drug

Introduction: Tension headache (TTS), the most common type of primary headache, is characterized by tightness pain, typically bilateral, lasting hours or days, significantly impairing daily activities. Objectives: To review the literature on the use of acupuncture in the management of TTS, evaluating its safety and efficacy. Design and setting: A systematic review conducted at the Pontifical Catholic University of Goiás. Methods: A systematic literature review was performed in the PubMed, EMBASE and Virtual Health Library databases, with the terms: “Tension-Type Headache AND Acupuncture”. Randomized studies and clinical trials published in the last 10 years were selected. Results: Two studies, one clinical trial and one randomized trial, concluded that combining acupuncture with another therapy involving movement, such as stretching, physical therapy techniques, or relaxation training, led to reduced pain intensity and improved quality of life in patients with TTS. In contrast, other randomized clinical trials concluded that relaxation training decreased the intensity, frequency of attacks, and adjunctive symptoms of headache (sleep and vitality) more than acupuncture. Finally, acupuncture was compared with the simulated control process in the prevention of TTS, but there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups evaluated. Conclusion: The literature indicated that the combination of acupuncture with other therapeutic options was safe and effective in the management and prevention of TTS. Studies with greater scientific rigor should be conducted for a better understanding of this therapeutic option.

Download Full-text

Electroreduction of the Muscle Relaxant Drug Dantrolene Sodium at the Mercury Electrode and Its Determination in Bulk Form and Pharmaceutical Formulation

Chemical and Pharmaceutical Bulletin ◽

10.1248/cpb.55.1483 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 55 (10) ◽

pp. 1483-1488 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Enass Mohamed Ghoneim

Keyword(s):

Muscle Relaxant ◽

Mercury Electrode ◽

Pharmaceutical Formulation ◽

Dantrolene Sodium ◽

Muscle Relaxant Drug

Download Full-text

A Single Dose Placebo-Controlled Study to Assess the Effectiveness of Adding a Muscle Relaxant to a Compound Analgesic in the Treatment of Tension Headache

Journal of International Medical Research ◽

10.1177/030006057900700616 ◽

1979 ◽

Vol 7 (6) ◽

pp. 560-563 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

D Atkinson

Keyword(s):

Single Dose ◽

Side Effects ◽

Pain Relief ◽

Muscle Relaxant ◽

Tension Headache ◽

Controlled Study ◽

Patient Assessment

A patient-assessment of pain relief over 4 hours following a single dose of a compound analgesic has shown that 78% of patients achieve satisfactory relief of pain due to tension headache and that this response is enhanced by the addition of chlormezanone, an agent with reported anxiolytic and muscle relaxant actions. Side-effects were minor in nature.

Download Full-text

Guided self-help concreteness training as an intervention for major depression in primary care: a Phase II randomized controlled trial

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291711002480 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 42 (7) ◽

pp. 1359-1371 ◽

Cited By ~ 76

Author(s):

E. R. Watkins ◽

R. S. Taylor ◽

R. Byng ◽

C. Baeyens ◽

R. Read ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Primary Care ◽

Major Depression ◽

Cognitive Processes ◽

Relaxation Training ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Post Treatment ◽

Mean Difference ◽

Treatment As Usual ◽

Self Help

BackgroundThe development of widely accessible, effective psychological interventions for depression is a priority. This randomized trial provides the first controlled data on an innovative cognitive bias modification (CBM) training guided self-help intervention for depression.MethodOne hundred and twenty-one consecutively recruited participants meeting criteria for current major depression were randomly allocated to treatment as usual (TAU) or to TAU plus concreteness training (CNT) guided self-help or to TAU plus relaxation training (RT) guided self-help. CNT involved repeated practice at mental exercises designed to switch patients from an unhelpful abstract thinking habit to a helpful concrete thinking habit, thereby targeting depressogenic cognitive processes (rumination, overgeneralization).ResultsThe addition of CNT to TAU significantly improved depressive symptoms at post-treatment [mean difference on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD) 4.28, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.29–7.26], 3- and 6-month follow-ups, and for rumination and overgeneralization post-treatment. There was no difference in the reduction of symptoms between CNT and RT (mean difference on the HAMD 1.98, 95% CI −1.14 to 5.11), although CNT significantly reduced rumination and overgeneralization relative to RT post-treatment, suggesting a specific benefit on these cognitive processes.ConclusionsThis study provides preliminary evidence that CNT guided self-help may be a useful addition to TAU in treating major depression in primary care, although the effect was not significantly different from an existing active treatment (RT) matched for structural and common factors. Because of its relative brevity and distinct format, it may have value as an additional innovative approach to increase the accessibility of treatment choices for depression.

Download Full-text