Table 4.
Summary of findings of relaxation training for paediatric headache
| Outcome | Measure used | Number and design of studies | Number of patients | Quality of evidence (GRADE)a | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Headache Duration | Duration in hours Some studies used total duration and others a mean score. |
5 RCTs | N=462 | (+) very low | Unable to calculate estimate of effect due to measurement heterogeneity and incomplete reporting. Two of the five studies found benefit of relaxation training. |
| Headache Frequency | Headache yes/no Data collection ranged from weekly to 4×/day. Some studies analyzed frequency and others used headache-free days. |
7 RCTs | N=571 | (+) very low | Unable to calculate estimate of effect due to measurement heterogeneity and incomplete reporting. Four of the seven studies found benefit of relaxation training. |
| Headache Intensity | Pain scale, range 0–5 and 0–10 Some studies used peak intensity (highest reported score) and others a mean score. |
6 RCTs | N=553 | (+) very low | Unable to calculate estimate of effect due to measurement heterogeneity and incomplete reporting. Two of the six studies found benefit of relaxation training. |