Relaxation prophylaxis for childhood migraine: a randomized placebo-controlled trial.

A randomized controlled trial was used to evaluate the effectiveness of relaxation training in the treatment of paediatric migraine. Relaxation training was compared with-two control groups (psychological placebo and 'own best efforts') in a total of 99 children and adolescents with frequent migraine. Daily recording of the headaches following treatment, three months after treatment and at the one-year follow-up indicated that all three treatments were equally effective. The importance of the use of adequate control conditions which generate equivalent expectancies in pain treatment research was confirmed.