Headstrong Intervention for Pediatric Headache

Headstrong Intervention for Recurrent Pediatric Headache

Purpose of this study is to determine if a CD-ROM computer program (called "Headstrong") is effective in helping children cope with chronic headaches.

Children, 7-12 years, with recurrent headaches are randomly assigned to an educational CD-ROM program or the Headstrong CD-ROM program. We anticipate that those assigned to the active (Headstrong) program group will have significantly greater reductions in headache frequency, duration, and severity and improvements in mood and quality of life.

Inclusion criteria:

• 7-12 years of age
• having recurrent, intermittent, nonmalignant headaches occurring on an average of at least once per week by parental or child report and separated by symptom-free periods
• having a diagnosis by a nurse practitioner, pediatrician, or pediatric neurologist of migraine, muscle-contraction, or chronic daily headaches

Exclusion criteria:

• their medical history and/or neurological exam suggests that headaches are secondary to another physical or developmental condition
• their parents report they have been diagnosed with a mental health condition or they are receiving concurrent psychotherapy
• their baseline headache diaries indicate an average headache frequency of less than one per week