Abstract

Aims: The current study has aimed to investigate the effectiveness of neurofeedback therapy on the treatment of primary headaches in military personnel. Methods: The present study was a quasi-experimental single group with a pre-test and post-test. The method of sampling was convenience sampling. The independent variable was the neurofeedback intervention and the dependent variables were frequency, severity and the duration of the headache. The assessment tool was the Blanchard headache diary. At the end, 15 military personnel with a primary headache were selected. The subjects completed the headache dairy record form a week before intervention as a pre-test. Then the subjects were treated with neurofeedback over fifteen 30-minute sessions, three times a week. At the end of the treatment period, the subjects completed the headache dairy record form for a week as a post-test. Finally, the results of the pre-test and post-test were compared. Results: The results of the paired t-test carried out on the pre-test and post-test indicated that neurofeedback treatment significantly decreased the frequency (P<0.01), severity (P<0.01) and duration (P<0.05) of headaches in patients with primary headache. Conclusion: Considering the obtained results and the dramatic reduce of the headache frequency, severity and duration, it seems that treatment with neurofeedback as a behavioral intervention can be effective in the reduction and treatment of primary headaches in the military personnel.