Veterans with chronic headaches interested in complementary and integrative medicine provided by the VHA
By Lori Mae Yvette Calibuso Acob. This article was initially published in our Concussion Update newsletter; please consider subscribing.
A qualitative study conducted by Kuruvilla et al. explored the perceptions and preferences of veteran patients and Veteran Health Administration (VHA) providers regarding using complementary and integrative medicine (CIM) to supplement mainstream treatment options for chronic headaches. A press release notes that “Approximately 12 percent of veterans, especially those who have been in combat, have a history of traumatic brain injury, or have been exposed to burn pits, may experience severe headaches impacting their quality of life and ability to function.”
The study, published in BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, demonstrated that patients and providers favored CIM because it could be safely integrated into mainstream treatment plans and empowered patients to take control of their health.
Kuruvilla and her team interviewed 20 veterans diagnosed with headache disorders and 43 clinical providers across 12 VHA facilities with Headache Centers of Excellence (HCoE). The HCoE program supports veteran patients with headaches by improving the quality, delivery, and access to care – as well as implementing CIM in veteran patient care plans. CIM approaches include meditation, yoga, Tai Chi, nutraceuticals such as herbs and minerals, exercise, biofeedback, cognitive behavioral therapy, massage, chiropractic care, acupuncture, and “cannabinoids or cannabis derivatives.”
Project senior author Teresa Damush, Ph.D., noted that “veterans with chronic headache were very interested in combining alternatives, such as acupuncture, massage, yoga or tai chi, with mainstream medicine and that they were encouraged by the fact that alternatives exist to simply taking additional pharmaceuticals for pain.” Veterans also shared that CMI approaches were attractive because their mainstream prescription treatments had limited efficacy or were difficult to tolerate.
With migraines affecting 1 out of 7 Americans and approximately 12% of Veterans patients in VHA systems, there is an increased need for alternative treatment plans like CIM, especially when standard treatment options are not effective or satisfactory. Expanding CIM services and accessibility across various VHA sites may be beneficial in improving the health outcomes of Veterans with headache disorders.