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Mindfulness in migraine: A narrative review
Rebecca Erwin Wells1, Elizabeth K Seng2, Robert R Edwards3
1Comprehensive Headache Program, Center for Integrative Medicine, Department of Neurology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Wake Forest Baptist Health, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics
|January 15, 2020
Summary
Mindfulness-based interventions show promise for migraine management, potentially improving disability and well-being. Further research is needed to optimize these non-pharmacological approaches for migraine patients.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Psychiatry
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Migraine is a leading cause of global disability.
- Pharmacological treatments for migraine are not always effective or accessible.
- Non-pharmacological therapies are needed, particularly for reducing opioid dependence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the efficacy and mechanisms of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) for migraine.
- To explore specific MBIs like mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT).
Main Methods:
- Review of existing pilot trials and research on MBIs for migraine.
- Analysis of potential mechanisms through which MBIs may affect migraine.
Main Results:
- Initial evidence from pilot trials suggests MBIs may improve headache-related disability and psychological well-being.
- MBIs may enhance flexible attentional capacity, aiding in managing sensory, cognitive, and emotional experiences.
Conclusions:
- MBIs show potential as a complementary, non-pharmacological approach for migraine management.
- Further research is required to determine optimal MBI dosage, duration, delivery, and identify patient characteristics and biomarkers for targeted treatment.
- Mindfulness is a tool to aid patients in engaging with life activities, not a cure for migraine.
