Introduction
Although both pharmacological and behavioral interventions may relieve tension-type headache, data are lacking regarding treatment preference, compliance, and feasibility of behavioral intervention in a neurological outpatient clinic setting.
Aims
To describe patient choice, compliance, and outcome in a neurological clinic where patients are given the choice of the approach they wish to pursue.
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Methods
Patients presenting to the headache clinic with a diagnosis of tension-type headache, were given the choice of amitriptyline (AMT) treatment or hypnotic relaxation (HR), and were treated accordingly. Patients were given the option to cross-over to the other treatment group . HR was performed during standard length neurology clinic appointments by a neurologist . Follow-up interviews were performed between 6 and 12 months following treatment initiation to evaluate compliance, headache frequency or severity, and quality-of-life.
Results
98 patients were enrolled, 92 agreed to receive prophylactic therapy. 53 (57.6%) patients chose HR of which 36 (67.9%)initiated this treatment, 39 (42.4%) chose AMT of which 25 (64.1%) initiated therapy. 74%of the patients in the HR group and 58% of patients in the AMT group had a 50% reduction in the frequency of headaches (P=.16). At the end of the study , 26 patients who tried HR compared with 10 who tried AMT continued receiving their initial treatment.
Conclusions
HR was a more popular choice among patients. Patients choosing HR reported greater amelioration than those choosing AMT and were found to have greater treatment compliance. HR practiced by a neurologist is feasible in a standard neurological outpatient clinic.
No conflict of interest.
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