Electroacupuncture for Menstrual-Related Migraine: Protocol for a Multicenter Single-Blinded Randomized Controlled...

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Integrative Medicine
• Clinical Trials

Background:

• Menstrual-related migraine (MRM) is a common neurological condition in women, characterized by severe symptoms and reduced quality of life.
• Existing treatments for MRM often have limited efficacy or significant side effects.
• Electroacupuncture presents a potential non-pharmacological therapeutic option for MRM.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture for managing menstrual-related migraine.
• To compare electroacupuncture with sham electroacupuncture in a randomized controlled trial.
• To assess the impact of electroacupuncture on migraine frequency, severity, and associated symptoms.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 120 participants with MRM, allocated to electroacupuncture or sham electroacupuncture groups (1:1 ratio).
• Participants received 30-minute treatment sessions twice weekly for 12 weeks.
• Primary outcome: reduction in migraine days and attacks from baseline during weeks 9-12; secondary outcomes included symptom characteristics, patient-reported outcomes (VAS, MIDAS, ISI, GAD-7, PHQ-9), and treatment response rates.

Main Results:

• The study protocol is designed to rigorously assess the primary outcome of reduced migraine frequency and severity.
• Secondary outcome measures will provide comprehensive data on symptom improvement and patient-reported quality of life.
• Adverse events will be systematically documented to evaluate the safety profile of electroacupuncture in MRM patients.

Conclusions:

• This trial aims to provide high-quality evidence on the effectiveness of electroacupuncture for MRM.
• Findings could support electroacupuncture as a viable non-pharmacological treatment for women with MRM.
• The study protocol addresses a critical gap in evidence-based research for MRM interventions.