Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB) Practice Exam

What additional treatment is recommended for managing cluster headaches besides medications?

1. Stress management therapy

2. Cognitive behavior therapy

3. Regular exercise

4. Comprehensive headache diaries

The correct answer is: Comprehensive headache diaries

Managing cluster headaches effectively often requires a multifaceted approach that includes medication as well as non-pharmacological strategies. Keeping a comprehensive headache diary is particularly beneficial for individuals experiencing cluster headaches. This diary allows patients to track the frequency, duration, and intensity of their headache attacks, as well as potential triggers, which can include dietary factors, sleep patterns, and environmental influences. By recording these details, individuals and healthcare providers can work together to identify patterns and modify treatment plans accordingly. A comprehensive headache diary can help in recognizing the characteristics of the cluster headaches and may lead to better individualization of treatment, ultimately improving the patient's quality of life. Other options, while beneficial in some contexts, do not specifically contribute to the management of cluster headaches in the same targeted way as maintaining a detailed record of headache occurrences and triggers. Stress management therapy and cognitive behavior therapy may help with general headache issues or associated anxiety but are not as directly impactful on the specific patterns seen in cluster headaches. Regular exercise can be beneficial for overall health but may not have a specific influence on the cluster headache episodes themselves. Thus, the use of a headache diary stands out as a crucial additional tool in the management of this condition.