Psychophysiological responses as predictors of response to behavioral treatment of chronic headache

Authors

• Edward B. Blanchard, State University of New York Albany
• Frank Andrasik, State University of New York Albany
• John G. Arena, State University of New York Albany
• Debra F. Neff, State University of New York Albany
• Nancy L. Saunders, State University of New York Albany
• Susan E. Jurish, State University of New York Albany
• Steven J. Teders, State University of New York Albany
• Lawrence D. Rodichok, Albany Medical College

Abstract

A battery of psychophysiological responses including forehead EMG, skin temperature, skin resistance level and heart rate, measured under several conditions including baseline, self-relaxation, and self-control, and stresses such as mental arithmetic and cold pressor, was collected on patients with three types of headache prior to any treatment. With this battery we can predict from 31.5 to 70.2% of the variance in posttreatment headache activity level scores for patients treated with relaxation and biofeedback. Moreover, we can correctly classify as successful or unsuccessful, after either relaxation training or biofeedback training, from 72.7 to 89.7% of subsamples based on headache type and treatment regimen. © 1983 Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy. All rights reserved.

Publication Title

Behavior Therapy

Recommended Citation

Blanchard, E., Andrasik, F., Arena, J., Neff, D., Saunders, N., Jurish, S., Teders, S., & Rodichok, L. (1983). Psychophysiological responses as predictors of response to behavioral treatment of chronic headache. Behavior Therapy, 14 (3), 357-374. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0005-7894(83)80099-9