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Response to Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy Differs Between Chronic and Episodic Migraine.
Elizabeth K Seng1, Alexandra B Conway1, Amy S Grinberg1
1Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology (EKS, ZSP, MM, LR, DCB), Yeshiva University, Bronx, New York; Saul R. Korey Department of Neurology (EKS, DCB, RBL), Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York; Montefiore Headache Center (EKS, RBL), Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York; Center for Behavioral and Nutritional Health (ABC), Greenwich Hospital, Connecticut; Psychology Service (ASG), VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut; Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (CM), Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston; School of Psychology (MAD), University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Department of Rehabilitation Medicine (MAD), The University of Washington, Seattle; and Departments of Neurology and Population Health (MTM), New York University Langone Health, New York.
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Migraine (MBCT-M) shows greater effectiveness in reducing headache disability for episodic migraine patients compared to chronic migraine patients. MBCT-M is a promising approach for managing migraine-related disability.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Psychiatry
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Migraine is a common neurological disorder characterized by recurrent headaches.
- Headache disability significantly impacts patients' quality of life.
- Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Migraine (MBCT-M) is an intervention aimed at reducing migraine-related disability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the differential effects of MBCT-M on headache disability in patients with episodic migraine versus chronic migraine (CM).
Main Methods:
- A secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial involving 60 participants.
- Participants were stratified into episodic (6-14 d/mo) and CM (15-30 d/mo) groups.
- Intervention: 8 weekly sessions of MBCT-M versus wait list/treatment as usual (WL/TAU).
- Outcomes assessed using Headache Disability Inventory and Severe Migraine Disability Assessment Scale at baseline and 1, 2, and 4 months.
Main Results:
- Chronic migraine moderated the impact of MBCT-M on severe disability.
- MBCT-M significantly reduced severe disability in episodic migraine patients (-40.0%) more than in CM patients (-16.4%).
- MBCT-M improved Headache Disability Inventory scores in episodic migraine but not in CM.
Conclusions:
- MBCT-M demonstrates significant potential for reducing headache-related disability.
- The therapeutic benefits of MBCT-M are more pronounced in individuals with episodic migraine compared to those with chronic migraine.
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