Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Behavioral treatment for migranes a cost-effective alternative to meds, study finds
University of Mississippi Medical Center ^ | July 1, 2011 | Jack Mazurak

Posted on 07/05/2011 9:08:56 AM PDT by decimon

JACKSON, Miss. - Treating chronic migraines with behavioral approaches - such as relaxation training, hypnosis and biofeedback - can make financial sense compared to prescription-drug treatment, especially after a year or more, a new study found.

Longtime behavioral therapy researcher and practitioner Dr. Donald Penzien, University of Mississippi Medical Center professor of psychiatry, coauthored the study. He said the costs of prescription prophylactic drugs - the kind chronic migraine sufferers take every day to prevent onset - may not seem much even at several dollars a day.

"But those costs keep adding up with additional doctor visits and more prescriptions," Penzien said. "The cost of behavioral treatment is front-loaded. You go to a number of treatment sessions but then that's it. And the benefits last for years."

Published in the June issue of the journal Headache, the study compared the costs over time of several types of behavioral treatments with prescription-drug treatments. The research team included investigators from Wake Forest University, UMMC and the University of Mississippi.

The researchers found that after six months, the cost of minimal-contact behavioral treatment was competitive with pharmacologic treatments using drugs costing 50 cents or less a day. Minimal-contact treatment is when a patient sees a therapist a few times but largely practices the behavioral techniques at home, aided by literature or audio recordings.

After one year, the minimal-contact method was nearly $500 cheaper than pharmacologic treatment.

(Excerpt) Read more at publicaffairs.umc.edu ...


TOPICS: Health/Medicine
KEYWORDS: headache; migraine
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-23 last
To: chris37

I have a friend who ONLY uses Goody’s! She carries it with her all the time.


21 posted on 07/05/2011 10:57:11 AM PDT by zeaal
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: SuziQ

I have used hypnosis for pain relief with my wife and myself. I have a certification for medical/dental hypnosis, but I only use it with family. (Doing so without a Drs. Rx would be practicing medicine without a license. Illegal and unethical).

The physical part of pain itself (vessels, muscles etc.) can respond to suggestion given by someone or something considered to have authority, while the conscious mind and body are relaxed. Pain and suffering have many other components though; rage, guilt, blame, depression, despair etc.. When those cognitive/emotional components are successfully eliminated the actual physical pain will be greatly lessened.


22 posted on 07/05/2011 12:07:40 PM PDT by CPO retired
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: decimon
I haven't had problems with my back, headaches, or sinus infections since I started going to the chiro regularly. He is now helping me cope with my pregnancy induced restless leg syndrome and posterior pelvic pain. For my pregnancy related issues I couldn't go the medical route even if I wanted to, which I don't. My insurance even granted me extra chiro visits because they know that if I would choose the medical route, it would be so much more expensive and there is no guarantee that it will work as well as the chiro adjustments are. Every time I see a prescription drug commercial on TV and listen to the list of nasty side effects I laugh.
23 posted on 07/05/2011 12:54:01 PM PDT by goodwithagun (My gun has killed fewer people than Ted Kennedy's car.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-23 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson