An Integrative Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Program for Adults With Migraine: A Feasibility Study
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Published on: August 11, 2021
Timo Klan1, Eva Liesering-Latta2, Charly Gaul2
1Department of Psychology, University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
Objective:
To present a novel cognitive behavioral therapy program that was developed exclusively for adults with migraine, and to assess the feasibility of this program.
Background:
Unlike previous efforts, we combined different approaches of behavioral therapy into one program: relaxation therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, trigger management.
Methods:
The treatment program consists of 7 sessions (including psychoeducation, lifestyle counseling, coping with fear of attacks, trigger management, and stress management). The research was conducted in a single-group study with N = 9 completers (age: M = 41.6, SD = 17.6 years; N = 8 female, N = 1 male; N = 5 migraine without aura, N = 2 migraine with aura, N = 2 chronic migraine). After each of the group therapy sessions, evaluation questionnaires were filled out, and individual qualitative interviews were conducted after completion of the program.
Results:
The treatment program was very well accepted. Every session was rated as comprehensible, and overall satisfaction with the sessions was high. Participants greatly appreciated having access to a specific treatment, exclusively addressing migraine.
Conclusions:
The idea of combining several approaches of behavioral therapy into a specific treatment program for migraine seems to be feasible and promising. A randomized controlled trial to determine the efficacy of our program is currently running.
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