Randomized Controlled Trial of the Acceptability, Feasibility, and Preliminary Effects of a Cognitive Behavioral Skills Building Intervention in Adolescents With Chronic Daily Headaches: A Pilot Study

IntroductionThe treatment challenge of adolescents with chronic daily headaches (CDHs) creates an urgent need for evidence-based interventions. Therefore the purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the acceptability, feasibility, and preliminary effects of a brief cognitive behavioral skills building intervention with 36 adolescents, 13 to 17 years of age, who had CDHs and mild to moderate depressive symptoms.MethodsParticipants were randomly assigned either to the Creating Opportunities for Personal Empowerment–Headache Education Program (COPE-HEP) or to a headache education comparison group.ResultsAdolescents and parents found the COPE-HEP to be highly acceptable. Medium to large positive effects were demonstrated on the adolescents' depression in both groups and on anxiety and beliefs in the COPE-HEP group. COPE-HEP offered additional benefits of a larger decrease in adolescent anxiety over time and stronger beliefs in the teens' ability to manage their headaches.DiscussionAdolescents with CDHs and elevated depressive/anxiety symptoms should be offered headache hygiene education plus cognitive-behavioral skills building interventions. A full-scale trial to determine the more long-term benefits of COPE-HEP is now warranted.