Study Suggests a Causal Relationship Between Childhood Adversity and Migraine—By Dawn Buse, PhD

CBT has the best evidence for treating PTSD, as well as other effects of abuse and maltreatment. DBT is indicated for individuals who have difficulty maintaining relationships, who have emotional dysregulation, or who engage in self-harm behaviors (which often are associated with Axis II disorders of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-4th edition, including borderline personality disorder). DBT combines the basic principles of CBT with relaxation training and mindfulness meditation.

Biofeedback is a helpful tool for teaching awareness, activation, and control of physiological and emotional responses to stress. Biofeedback is most effective when coupled with relaxation training. Relaxation therapies can counteract the sympathetic “fight or flight response” by teaching the “relaxation response” to engage the parasympathetic nervous system.