A self-administered behavioral intervention using tailored messages for migraine

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a Self-Administered Behavioral Intervention using Tailored messages (SEABIT) for migraine. The primary measures were headache days, headache-related disability, behavioral/emotional factors, and headache-related beliefs.

Behavioral and cognitive-behavioral interventions for migraine treatment are well established and possess "Grade-A" evidence based on the U.S. Headache Consortium evidence-based guidelines. To increase the accessibility of behavioral interventions in primary and other settings, treatment can be delivered in self-administered formats. Incorporating tailored health communication strategies (via tailored messages) into a self-administered format can help maintain a level of personalization without requiring regular visits to a behavioral specialist. Tailored messages are created using individual-level assessment data to educate and motivate the patient to develop behavioral skills and strategies for migraine prevention and management.

Twenty-five individuals (95% female, 90% Caucasian, mean headache years = 21.0) began and 84% (21/25) completed all phases of the 8-week SEABIT developed for migraine prevention (preceded by a 1-month baseline phase and followed by a 1-month postintervention phase).

Overall, 62% (13/21) reported at least a 50% reduction in headache frequency, and mean headache frequency for the group was also significantly reduced from baseline to postintervention (16.9 vs. 10.7, P < .001; eta2= .61). Headache-related disability, behavioral/emotional factors, and headache-management self-efficacy also showed significant improvement.

The findings suggest that the SEABIT for migraine prevention is an effective behavioral intervention that potentially could be accessed and distributed in a variety of settings including primary care.