GBA new healthcare approaches - moma - development-related, multimodal, interdisciplinary early intervention as part of a structured therapy concept for children with migraines
- Project Leader: Prof. Dr. Rüdiger von Kries
- Affiliation: Institute of Social Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine
- Funding: 2018 to 2021
More and more children suffer from headaches. Already at primary school age, about every 75th child is diagnosed with migraine, which often accompanies and negatively affects the affected children for life. The diagnosis and care of children with migraines is not yet adequately tailored to the specific needs of this target group.
The project is developing and investigating a new care concept that aims to improve the quality of life and long-term prognosis of children with migraines. The core elements of the care concept are (1) standardized migraine diagnostics by the pediatrician and (2) multimodal, interdisciplinary early therapy (FIRST). The pediatricians are provided with specific diagnostic tools with which they can better record the symptoms characteristic of migraine as well as the psychological and social factors. Children diagnosed with migraines receive early therapy in a social pediatric center (SPZ). Early therapy includes a comprehensive diagnosis and differentiation from headaches that have other causes (e.g. infections, brain tumors). Medical therapy and child neurological counseling take place, which also includes the parents. The children also receive physiotherapy treatments. In addition, examinations are carried out to determine and treat mental distress. Pediatricians, child neurologists, psychologists and physiotherapists work closely together at the SPZ.
The effectiveness of the new therapy concept is being examined in comparison to standard therapy. For this purpose, the following parameters in particular are collected: reduction in headache days, medication intake and school days absent as well as improvement in quality of life. The project will be funded for three years with a total of approx. 2.7 million euros.
In the event of success, a specific, structured therapy concept for the treatment of children with migraines is available, which can be transferred to the existing care landscape.
Source: GBA Innovationsfonds