The DOI matches its Crossref record; 159 of the 163 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Behavioral management of headache triggers: Avoidance of triggers is an inadequate strategy
Abstract
The standard clinical advice for individuals who suffer from recurrent headaches is that the best way to prevent headaches is to avoid the triggers. This review challenges that advice from a number of perspectives, including: that the advice is given in a theoretical vacuum; it is associated with practical problems; and it is not evidence-based. The review considers cognate literatures on stress, negative affect, and chronic pain that advocate approach/confront strategies over avoidance strategies. It is suggested that advice to avoid triggers could result in maintenance of the capacity of the trigger to precipitate headaches or even a sensitization process whereby tolerance diminishes. As anxiety researchers have investigated extensively the issue of how stimuli acquire and lose their capacity to elicit fear, this literature is explored to draw inferences for headache triggers. The review concludes with suggestions concerning etiology of chronic headache and associated management implications, and directions for future research. It argues that the philosophy of 'avoidance of triggers' should be replaced with 'coping with triggers,' as the latter includes both avoidance and approach/confront strategies involving exposure to triggers.
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“especially when this is applied inflexibly to all triggers and at the expense of valued living.45”
From Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Primary Headache Sufferers: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Efficacy (2021) · cites this paper as [45]
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“although, research and this studies’ findings do not show differential psychosocial effects between those with migraines and tension-type headache,44”
From Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Primary Headache Sufferers: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Efficacy (2021) · cites this paper as [45]
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Metadata
- Authors
- Martin, P. R., & MacLeod, C.
- Affiliations
- Monash Medical Centre (AU)
- The University of Western Australia (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Martin, Paul R.
- Venue
- Clinical Psychology Review
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2009-08
- Volume
- 29
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 483-495
- ISSN
- 0272-7358 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1974134796
- Cited by
- 171
- References
- 163
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 17 · 2012: 13
- FWCI
- 1.39
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Clinical Psychology Review (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- UWA Profiles and Research Repository (UWA) (submittedVersion)
- Griffith Research Online (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Clinical Neurology › Migraine and Headache Studies
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation › Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Clinical Neurology › Traumatic Brain Injury Research
- Keywords
- headache triggers, trigger avoidance, recurrent headache, chronic headache, avoidance strategies, stress, negative affect, chronic pain, sensitization, anxiety, fear acquisition, headache prevention
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Psychological, Affect, Alcohol Drinking, Anxiety Disorders, Avoidance Learning, Chronic Disease, Desensitization, Psychologic, Diet, Humans, Hunger, Menstruation, Pain, Sleep Wake Disorders, Stress, Psychological, Weather, Headache Disorders, Pain Management
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