[Cognitive behavioral therapy in the treatment of patients with chronic migraine and concomitant chronic insomnia: a prospective, randomized trial]. / Kognitivno-povedencheskaya terapiya pri khronicheskoi migreni i sochetannoi khronicheskoi insomnii: prospektivnoe randomizirovannoe issledovanie.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of a multidisciplinary program, including Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), in the treatment of patients with chronic migraine (CM) and concomitant chronic insomnia (CI). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 96 patients with CM and CI, average age 35.7±8.6. All patients underwent clinical interviews and testing using clinical and psychological techniques. Patients were randomized into two groups: group 1 received study treatment (an multudisciplinary program including CBT for pain and insomnia, combined with standard treatment for migraine), group 2 received standard treatment for migraine (preventive and acute pharmacotherapy for migraine, recommendations about lifestyle and sleep hygiene). All patients were assessed for clinical and psychological parameters before treatment and at 3, 6, 12 and 18 months follow-up. RESULTS: At 3 month follow-up a statistically significant improvement was observed in group 1: a decrease in the frequency of headaches and the use of painkillers, parameters on the Insomnia Severity Index (ITI), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), the Beck Depression Inventory, and the Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS) (p<0.05). At 6, 12 and 18 months follow-up the achieved improvements were maintained. At 3 month follow-up, group 2 showed a statistically significant improvement in only 4 parameters: a decrease in the frequency of headaches and painkiller use, and parameters for ITI and MIDAS. These parameters increased to values that were not statistically significantly different from the parameters before treatment in group 2 at 6 month follow-up. At 3 month follow-up in group 165% of patients achieved clinical effect (CE) according to CM (headache frequency decreased by 50% or more), in group 2 - 40%, which was not statistically significantly different (p>0.001); in group 1, 76% of patients achieved CE according to CI (ITI decreased by 8 points or more), which is statistically significantly more than in group 2 with 45% of patients with CE (p<0.001). At 18 month follow-up, in group 1, 81.5% of patients achieved CE according to CM, which is statistically significantly more than in group 2 with 33% of patients with CE (p<0.001); in group 1, 85% of patients achieved CE according to CI, which is statistically significantly more than in group 2, where 38% of patients had CE (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: High effectiveness of CBT in patients with CM and combined CI was noted.

[Mental disorders, social and demographic characteristics of patients with chronic and episodic migraine]. / Psikhicheskie rasstroistva, sotsial'nye i demograficheskie kharakteristiki patsientov s khronicheskoi i epizodicheskoi migren'yu.

OBJECTIVE: To compare socio-demographic, clinical and psychological characteristics and comorbid mental disorders in patients with chronic migraine (CM) and episodic migraine (EM). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Eighty patients with migraine (40 with CM (16 men and 24 women, mean age 33.5±6.1 years) and 40 with EM (9 men and 31 women, mean age 31.4±5.7 years) were examined. All patients were interviewed and tested with psychometric methods. Socio-demographic and clinical-psychological characteristics were determined in all patients. The psychiatrist assessed the mental status of patients and diagnosed comorbid mental disorders according to the ICD-10 criteria. RESULTS: Symptoms of depression, high levels of trait and state anxiety, and a tendency to emotional inadequacy of response were more common in CM patients than in EM patients (p<0.05). Mental disorders, predominantly of the anxiety-depressive spectrum, were more common in CM patients than EM patients (OR (95% CI)=2.54 (2.03 to 2.98, p<0.001). Seventy-five percent of CM patients had more than one psychiatric diagnosis, almost a quarter of CM patients had schizotypal disorder, which is significantly higher than in EM patients (OR (95% CI)=1.99; 1.03 to 2.42, p<0.001). There were more unmarried, single (without constant partner), unemployed, high-education patients in the CM group than in the EM group. The negative impact of headache on the daily activity of patients was significantly higher in the CM group than in the EM group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Mental disorders and psychological features (anxiety, depression symptoms, a tendency to emotional inadequacy of response) are more common in CM patients than in EM patients. The presence of these factors may contribute to the chronification of migraine.

[Chronic migraine treatment: multidisciplinary approach. Case report].

We described clinical case of chronic migraine and such comorbid disorders as insomnia and panic disorder. The influence of anxiety, insomnia, painkillers overuse on the chronicity of migraine has been shown. Multidisciplinary program was made for treatment of patient with chronic migraine, insomnia and panic disorder. Multidisciplinary program included education, detoxification therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy and pharmacotherapy. Patient's mistaken ideas about disorders was changed by using of cognitive-behavioral therapy. Also techniques of cognitive-behavioral therapy were needed for education of patient about effective skills to overcome pain, insomnia and anxiety. The transformation of migraine from chronic to episodic, improved sleep, improved emotional state and functional activity were noted after 3 months of treatment. Follow-up of the patient for 12 months showed long lasting positive effect of treatment for chronic migraine, insomnia and panic disorder.

[Diagnosis and treatment of acute low back pain].

Low back pain (LBP) is frequent cause for visit to the doctor and common cause of disability. Modern experts' recommendations for diagnostics and treatment of acute LBP are presented. Common mistakes, difficulties in diagnostics and treatment of acute LBP are discussed. Diagnosis of non - specific acute LBP is based on clinical examination and exclusion of specific causes of back pain. Instrumental studies are not needed in most cases of acute LBP. Key steps in the treatment of patients with acute non - specific LBP are to inform of patients about good prognosis of pain, to recommend daily activity and avoidance of bed rest, to prescribe nonsteroidal anti - inflammatory drug for pain reducing. Effectiveness of vitamins B in acute LBP is discussed.

[The optimization of management of chronic daily headache patients]. / Optimizatsiya vedeniya patsientov s khronicheskoi ezhednevnoi golovnoi bol'yu.

AIM: To optimize the management of chronic daily headache (CDH) using cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 90 patients (76 women and 14 men), aged from 23 to 78 years (mean age 46.71±11.99) with primary forms of CDH. The patients were followed-up by the neurologist during 12 months, psychological characteristics were studied together with the psychiatrist. Patients received combined treatment, including optimized pharmacotherapy, educational program, relaxation training, CBT and exercise therapy. RESULTS: The diagnosis of CDH has not been previously established in 86.7% of the patients. All patients received unnecessary additional diagnostic examinations, ineffective treatment (86.7%) that resulted in the formation of wrong conceptions about their state (90%). Three months after combined treatment, a significant positive effect has been achieved in 62.2% of the patients and after 12 months in 72.2%. CONCLUSION: The combined treatment program that included CBT can relatively rapidly help patients with CDH and exerts a stable positive effect during 12 months of the follow-up.

[Efficacy of thiolepta in diabetic polyneuropathy: results of the study ETIKA].

Thiolepta (alpha-lipoic acid preparation) was used in treatment of 205 patients, 134 women and 71 men, mean age 59.3±10.1 years; 196 patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) type II and 9 patients with DM type I. Treatment duration was 4 weeks. Dosage of the drug was 600 mg daily. Patients were assessed neurologically and with psychometric scales. Special attention was drawn to the severity of positive and negative symptoms of neuropathy and sleep disorders. The results demonstrated the efficacy of thiolepta in diabetic polyneuropathy assessed by all parameters. The effect remained during 3 months after the end of treatment. Good tolerability and safety of the drug are highlighted.