Cognitive behaviour therapy for co-morbid chronic headache and depression

INTERVENTION: The intervention involves 12 50‐minute sessions and includes: education about headaches and depression; relaxation training; scheduling pleasant activities; social skills training; training to challenge dysfunctional thoughts and underlying beliefs; problem solving training; identifying and managing headache triggers; training in pain management techniques; lifestyle management; and relapse prevention training. CONDITION: Chronic headache Major depressive disorder PRIMARY OUTCOME: Depression ‐ level of severity ‐ using Beck Depression Inventory Headache activity ‐ an index determined by headache frequency, severity and duration SECONDARY OUTCOME: Anxiety ‐ level of severity ‐ using Beck Anxiety Inventory Quality of life ‐ using the complementary SF‐36 from the Medical Outcomes Study, and the Australian Quality of Life instrument. INCLUSION CRITERIA: Diagnosed as tension‐type headache or migraine, minimum of 6 headaches per month, minimum chronicity of 12 months and pattern stable over 6 months, and diagnosed as major depressive disorder.