Slow wave photic stimulation in the treatment of headache--a preliminary report.

SYNOPSIS The Dzidra Glass is a battery powered, self-contained eyeglass using two liquid crystals to cast shadows on the closed or open eyelids at a rate of 1 to 3 hz. They are designed to induce relaxation through slow wave photic stimulation with one to five minutes of use, without concomitant medications or prior relaxation training. This study reports the preliminary experience with this modality in the treatment of headache. Fifteen patients with acute muscle-contraction type headache, six patients with chronic muscle-contraction type headache, three patients with headache associated with acute sinusitis, and four patients with migraine were treated with the Dzidra glasses for five minutes. Fourteen of fifteen patients with acute muscle-contraction type headache and five of six patients with chronic muscle-contraction type headache and five of six patients with chronic muscle-contraction type headache noted complete relief after treatment. One patient with chronic muscle contraction type headache and all patients' with headache associated with acute sinusitis and migraine headache noted no relief after treatment. Four patients with acute muscle-contraction type headache were treated in a placebo-controlled trial. None of the four responded to placebo, but all responded to treatment with slow wave photic stimulation. We conclude that in this preliminary report, slow wave photic stimulation appears to be effective in the treatment of acute and chronic muscle-contraction type headache.