Source published October 7, 2026. Added to Neurofeedback.com October 9, 2026.
A new systematic review and network meta-analysis brought together 16 randomized trials involving 820 children and adolescents with primary headache disorders. It compared several non-drug approaches across headache frequency, duration and intensity.
Compared with waiting-list control, biofeedback was associated with lower headache frequency, with a standardized mean difference of -1.11 and a 95% confidence interval from -2.04 to -0.17. It was also associated with lower headache intensity, with a standardized mean difference of -0.85 and a 95% confidence interval from -1.59 to -0.11. Biofeedback ranked highest for frequency by SUCRA at 81.4%, while biofeedback combined with relaxation was among the approaches associated with shorter headache duration.
Those rankings are useful signals, not proof that one intervention is clinically superior. The authors rated the evidence very low certainty and emphasized imprecise estimates. The included trials varied, and the network comparison does not determine what will work best for an individual child.
The review was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China grant 82004203. The authors declared no conflicts and reported using ChatGPT to improve language, with author review and responsibility for the manuscript.
AI-assisted source review and summary; no human clinical review is implied. The image is an AI-generated conceptual consultation scene, not a study participant, device or treatment result.