Olfactory training reduces pain sensitivity in children and adolescents with primary headaches

Frontiers in Pain Research

Pain Research

Gudrun Gossrau¹  Rainer Sabatowski²  Laura Zaranek³  Thea Koch⁴  Matthias Richter⁵  Anna Klimova⁶  Antje Haehner⁷ 

[1] Comprehensive Pain Center, University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany;Comprehensive Pain Center, University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany;Departement of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany;Comprehensive Pain Center, University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany;Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany;Departement of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany;Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany;NCT Partner Site Dresden, Institute for Medical Informatics and Biometrics, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany;Smell & Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany;

关键词: olfactory training;    primary headache;    pediatric migraine;    smell training;    pediatric headache;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpain.2023.1091984

 received in 2022-11-07, accepted in 2023-01-13,  发布年份 2023

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

ObjectiveHeadache prevalence among children and adolescents has increased over the last few years. Evidence-based treatment options for pediatric headaches remain limited. Research suggests a positive influence of odors on pain and mood. We investigated the effect of repeated exposure to odors on pain perception, headache-related disability, and olfactory function in children and adolescents with primary headaches.MethodsEighty patients with migraine or tension-type headache (mean 13.1 ± 3.29 years) participated, of whom 40 underwent daily olfactory training with individually selected pleasant odors for 3 months and 40 received state-of-the-art outpatient therapy as a control group. At baseline and after a 3-month follow-up, olfactory function [odor threshold; odor discrimination; odor identification; comprehensive Threshold, Discrimination, Identification (TDI) score], mechanical detection and pain threshold (quantitative sensory testing), electrical pain threshold, patient-reported outcomes on headache-related disability [Pediatric Migraine Disability Assessment (PedMIDAS)], pain disability [Pediatric Pain Disability Index (P-PDI)], and headache frequency were assessed.ResultsTraining with odors significantly increased the electrical pain threshold compared to the control group (U = 470.000; z = −3.177; p = 0.001). Additionally, olfactory training significantly increased the olfactory function (TDI score [t(39) = −2.851; p = 0.007], in particular, olfactory threshold, compared to controls (U = 530.500; z = −2.647; p = 0.008). Headache frequency, PedMIDAS, and P-PDI decreased significantly in both groups without a group difference.ConclusionsExposure to odors has a positive effect on olfactory function and pain threshold in children and adolescents with primary headaches. Increased electrical pain thresholds might reduce sensitization for pain in patients with frequent headaches. The additional favorable effect on headache disability without relevant side effects underlines the potential of olfactory training as valuable nonpharmacological therapy in pediatric headaches.

【 授权许可】

Unknown   
© 2023 Gossrau, Zaranek, Klimova, Sabatowski, Koch, Richter and Haehner.