According to Dr. Holroyd and his colleagues, three of the four treatments tricyclic drugs alone, tricyclics plus stress management, and stress management plus placebo reduced chronic tension-type headache activity, analgesic use, and headache related disability. Patients who took placebos throughout the trial did not report any reduction in headache activity. The study provides the first evidence that chronic tension-type headaches respond to brief behavioral therapy to the same degree as antidepressant medication alone. However, behavioral techniques may need to be repeated for several months before they have an impact on daily headaches. These findings suggest new avenues of research in the prevention and treatment of other types of headache.
Tension headache is caused by prolonged tightening of muscles in the head and neck.
Symptoms include a dull ache on both sides of the head, tightness or sensations of pressure around the scalp or neck, and depression. Many sufferers also find it difficult to sleep.