3 ARTICLES ON HEADACHES AND THE ROLE OF PSYCHOLOGISTS

Given the issues around opioid addiction in the news, this week’s Update will focus on issues centering around headaches, causes and treatments from a Psychological point of view.   These articles can be used in conjunction with the chapters covering neuropsychology, sensation and perception, health  Psychology as well as abnormal Psychology and addictions.

ARTICLE #1

TITLE

Migraines: Symptoms, treatments, and causes

DESCRIPTION

This is a fabulous resource for understanding migraine headaches.  It is recently updated and as the title state, the article presents the “symptoms, treatments, and causes.”   The article can be used in conjunction with the neurological basis of behavior, health Psychology, and abnormal/psychopathology.

SOURCE

Medical News Today, June 20, 2017, by Helen Webberley

LINK TO RESOURCE

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/148373.php

(Tiny URL)  http://tinyurl.com/ya2362ea

ARTICLE #2

TITLE

Alternative Treatments for Migraines and Headaches

DESCRIPTION

This “article” presents alternative treatment for sufferers of headaches and migraines.  The treatments include stress management, relaxation training, biofeedback, acupuncture, and other treatments such as massage, aromatherapy, and dietary changes.  Psychology has been at the forefront in the use of many of these treatment options (stress management, relaxation training, biofeedback).  Students can learn more about what Psychologists do in their interfacing medical problems such as migraines and headaches.  The article can be useful in discussing careers in the field as well as health and positive Psychology.

SOURCE

WebMD

LINK TO RESOURCE

http://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/nontraditional-headache-treatments#1

(Tiny URL):  http://tinyurl.com/y74kcy2y

ARTICLE #3

TITLE

Giving Migraine Treatments the Best Chance

DESCRIPTION

Jane Brody is a premier writer in the health fields.  In this recent update, she discusses migraine headaches from a personal perspective and the disruption that it causes in daily living. She “walks” the reader through the symptoms, causes, and neurology of the migraine, discusses the triggers, and causes and treatments.  This is an excellent starting point for a discussion in class of how a medical condition can impact activities of daily living.  Further, various treatments are discussed along with their effectiveness as well as treatments that are soon to become FDA approved.

SOURCE

New York Times, September 18, 2017, by Jane E Brody

LINK TO RESOURCE

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/18/well/giving-migraine-treatments-the-best-chance.html?_r=0

(Tiny URL)  http://tinyurl.com/yaksww3z

CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

•What is a headache?  What are the different types of headaches?

•What are the symptoms and causes of headaches?

•How do migraine headaches differ from other types of headaches?

•How are treatment for headaches associated with the use of opioid medications and other medications that have negative side effects?

•What are the alternate (complimentary) treatments for headaches that do not depend on drugs?

•Why are Psychologists interested in headaches and treatment?  What is the role of Psychologists in the treatment of headaches?