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Special treatment program for migraines and headaches for children and adolescents
For over ten years, we have been conducting the "Stop the Headache" program, developed by Heide Denecke and Birgit Kröner-Herwig, in an outpatient setting in close cooperation with Techniker Krankenkasse (a German health insurance company). Building on this, and due to a significant nationwide need for the program, we developed an intensive weekend course, which we successfully implemented and further refined. This course also integrated medical and pharmacological treatment aspects.
It became increasingly clear during the course of these treatment programs that a more intensive, multimodal treatment approach was necessary for a large number of severely affected children and adolescents. To this end, we integrated comprehensive medical, neurological, pain management, nutritional, physiotherapy, and sports therapy elements into a fully inpatient treatment program for children and adolescents, alongside psychological aspects of their experiences and behavior. This led to the development of our 16-day inpatient program, "Strong Against Headaches," which specifically addresses these needs and ensures intensive, interdisciplinary, and individually tailored treatment of headache problems in a small group setting with a maximum of eight young patients.
How does the treatment proceed?
The decision to admit patients to hospital can be made after a comprehensive preliminary assessment has been individually and thoroughly clarified to determine the treatment indication.
On the day of admission, an intensive interdisciplinary medical and psychological assessment is conducted. If necessary, medication therapy is structured or initiated.
On the day of admission, there is also an initial introduction to the group with the other children or adolescents and a thematic introduction to headache disorders, their processes and their origins.
The following day, the behavioral medicine and sports therapy program begins, closely integrated with the psychological components of the pain management group and conducted throughout the entire inpatient stay. It is further supplemented by individually tailored one-on-one treatments. The program's interconnected and sequential components shape the 16-day stay in a comprehensive and interdisciplinary manner.
The program
1. Building block
“Together we are strong”
We get to know each other, we understand each other, accept and support each other, and build the foundation for a good, trusting learning atmosphere in which we tackle our common problem, the headache!
2nd module
“Knowledge makes you strong”
What is a headache? How do different types of headaches differ? How do I experience them, and how do others experience them? What happens in my head, in my brain? Why do I get headaches and others don't? What is medication overuse headache, how does it develop, and how can it be prevented?
3rd module
“Let the stress go away!”
What is stress? What does stress feel like? How do I know if I'm stressed, and what can I do about it?
4th component: Relaxation and distraction
a) “Just chill out!”
The relaxation technique of progressive muscle relaxation will be taught and its application practiced. However, there are many other ways to calm down and relax.
b) “ Headaches in focus?”
This is about paying attention to pain: how and when should I pay attention to it, and how comprehensively... - can it be too much? It's also about distraction: how distraction works, when it doesn't, how and where it's useful, and how I can then use it strategically.
5th module
“What about medication?”
Which medications are used to treat headaches? What is preventative medication? What should I be aware of? Where might there be potential risks? These questions are discussed separately with the children and their parents to ensure everyone involved is fully informed. Experience has shown that there is often considerable uncertainty surrounding these topics, which we address.
6th module
“We control thinking”
What thoughts can be burdensome and literally give us a headache? How do such gloomy, dark thoughts stress us out? How can we stop such thoughts? And how can we transform them into brighter, more colorful ones? - We can do it!
7th module
“Don’t forget to eat…!”
This is about nutrition, which plays a crucial role, especially when dealing with headaches. Regular meals are so important! Furthermore, we'll address many, many questions, such as: Can I eat everything? What's good for me as a headache sufferer? What should I pay attention to? Do I have to stop eating sweets, for example?
8th module
“ How am I strong?”
This module focuses on so-called "social skills." We practice: How can I assert myself without hurting others? Do I always have to please everyone, or is it okay to say no sometimes? How can I express my opinion, even if it doesn't align with others'? When I can confidently interact with others, I experience significantly less stress!
9th module
“Problems? – No problem!”
Who doesn't have them, problems upon problems! We're practicing a really good strategy to solve problems as effectively as possible without letting them overwhelm us – because that's definitely not good for a headache…!
10th module
“Expert panel: Wow, I’m strong!”
This is our final session: – I 'm the expert! I 'm the boss! I 've got the big picture! We'll look back at all the issues and look ahead, because now we've got the headaches under control – they're not controlling us anymore!
These topics are addressed through psychotherapy, sports therapy, and medical-pharmacological approaches in close professional cooperation, both in groups and individually with the young patients.
The requirements for participation are:
- Chronic headaches (migraine, tension-type headache)
- Existing or imminent impairment of quality of life (school, hobbies, contact with friends) and/or ability to work at school
- Failure of a previous unimodal pain therapy, pain-related surgical intervention, or withdrawal treatment
- Pain-maintaining psychological comorbidity
- serious somatic accompanying illness
- Ages between 10 and 17 years
Should you wish to arrange treatment for your son or daughter within the framework of this program, please contact Ms. Podda at telephone number 0431-20099120
More information
Regarding the topic of migraines and headaches in children and the "Mütze" campaign: Childhood without headaches