Aim: We performed a pilot study in order to evaluate the feasibility and to estimate effect sizes of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) in a sample of patients suffering from migraine. Method: Migraine patients (n = 62, mean age 44 years, 92% female) were randomly allocated to either MBSR or an active control intervention based on progressive muscle relaxation and psychoeducation. The primary outcome was the number of migraine days per month assessed by headache diaries covering one month before and one month after the intervention. Secondary outcomes included functional impairment, use of medication, psychological symptoms, quality of life, pain acceptance, pain self-efficacy, pain perception and self-attributed mindfulness. To measure feasibility, questionnaires assessing study compliance and contentment were administered. Results: The primary outcome migraine frequency showed no significant group difference. Compared to the control group, the MBSR group showed greater improvements in variables of psychological symptoms, pain self-efficacy and sensory pain perception. Within the MBSR condition, all variables showed significant improvements over the course span with effect sizes ranging from d = 0.37 to 0.81, apart from the primary outcome (27% reduction in migraine days, p = 0.07). Compliance and contentment rates were good, supporting the feasibility of the MBSR intervention. Conclusion: Overall, participants in the MBSR group showed more adaptive coping strategies and decreased levels of psychological impairment compared to the control group, indicating a reduced impact of migraine on their everyday lives. It is concluded that this feasibility study demonstrates the ability of mindfulness-based interventions to reduce suffering in patients with migraine.

1.
Andlin-Sobocki
P
,
Jönsson
B
,
Wittchen
HU
,
Olesen
J
.
Cost of disorders of the brain in Europe
.
Eur J Neurol
.
2005
Jun
;
12
(
s1
Suppl 1
):
1
27
.
[PubMed]
1351-5101
2.
Lipton
RB
,
Bigal
ME
.
The epidemiology of migraine
.
Am J Med
.
2005
Mar
;
118
Suppl 1
:
3S
10S
.
[PubMed]
0002-9343
3.
Stovner
L
,
Hagen
K
,
Jensen
R
,
Katsarava
Z
,
Lipton
R
,
Scher
A
, et al
The global burden of headache: a documentation of headache prevalence and disability worldwide
.
Cephalalgia
.
2007
Mar
;
27
(
3
):
193
210
.
[PubMed]
0333-1024
4.
Lipton
RB
,
Liberman
JN
,
Kolodner
KB
,
Bigal
ME
,
Dowson
A
,
Stewart
WF
.
Migraine headache disability and health-related quality-of-life: a population-based case-control study from England
.
Cephalalgia
.
2003
Jul
;
23
(
6
):
441
50
.
[PubMed]
0333-1024
5.
Lipton
RB
,
Stewart
WF
,
Diamond
S
,
Diamond
ML
,
Reed
M
.
Prevalence and burden of migraine in the United States: data from the American Migraine Study II
.
Headache
.
2001
Jul-Aug
;
41
(
7
):
646
57
.
[PubMed]
0017-8748
6.
Ambrosini
A
,
Rossi
P
,
De Pasqua
V
,
Pierelli
F
,
Schoenen
J
.
Lack of habituation causes high intensity dependence of auditory evoked cortical potentials in migraine
.
Brain
.
2003
Sep
;
126
(
Pt 9
):
2009
15
.
[PubMed]
0006-8950
7.
Brighina
F
,
Palermo
A
,
Fierro
B
.
Cortical inhibition and habituation to evoked potentials: relevance for pathophysiology of migraine
.
J Headache Pain
.
2009
Apr
;
10
(
2
):
77
84
.
[PubMed]
1129-2369
8.
Coppola
G
,
Pierelli
F
,
Schoenen
J
.
Is the cerebral cortex hyperexcitable or hyperresponsive in migraine?
Cephalalgia
.
2007
Dec
;
27
(
12
):
1427
39
.
[PubMed]
0333-1024
9.
Ozkul
Y
,
Ay
H
.
Habituation of sympathetic skin response in migraine and tension type headache
.
Auton Neurosci
.
2007
Jul
;
134
(
1-2
):
81
4
.
[PubMed]
1566-0702
10.
Rains
JC
,
Penzien
DB
,
Lipchik
GL
.
Behavioral facilitation of medical treatment for headache—part II: theoretical models and behavioral strategies for improving adherence
.
Headache
.
2006
Oct
;
46
(
9
):
1395
403
.
[PubMed]
0017-8748
11.
Harpole
LH
,
Samsa
GP
,
Matchar
DB
,
Silberstein
SD
,
Blumenfeld
A
,
Jurgelski
AE
.
Burden of illness and satisfaction with care among patients with headache seen in a primary care setting
.
Headache
.
2005
Sep
;
45
(
8
):
1048
55
.
[PubMed]
0017-8748
12.
Linde
M
,
Dahlöf
C
.
Attitudes and burden of disease among self-considered migraineurs—a nation-wide population-based survey in Sweden
.
Cephalalgia
.
2004
Jun
;
24
(
6
):
455
65
.
[PubMed]
0333-1024
13.
Kabat-Zinn
J
.
Full catastrophe living: using the wisdom of your body and mind to face stress, pain, and illness
.
New York (N.Y.)
:
Bantam Dell
;
1990
.
14.
Kabat-Zinn
J
,
Lipworth
L
,
Burney
R
.
The clinical use of mindfulness meditation for the self-regulation of chronic pain
.
J Behav Med
.
1985
Jun
;
8
(
2
):
163
90
.
[PubMed]
0160-7715
15.
Kabat-Zinn
J
.
An outpatient program in behavioral medicine for chronic pain patients based on the practice of mindfulness meditation: theoretical considerations and preliminary results
.
Gen Hosp Psychiatry
.
1982
Apr
;
4
(
1
):
33
47
.
[PubMed]
0163-8343
16.
Kabat-Zinn
J
.
Mindfulness-Based Interventions in Context: Past, Present, and Future
.
Clin Psychol Sci Pract
.
2003
;
10
(
2
):
144
56
. 0969-5893
17.
Andrasik
F
,
Grazzi
L
,
D’Amico
D
,
Sansone
E
,
Leonardi
M
,
Raggi
A
, et al
Mindfulness and headache: A “new” old treatment, with new findings
.
Cephalalgia
.
2016
Oct
;
36
(
12
):
1192
205
.
[PubMed]
0333-1024
18.
Wells
RE
,
Burch
R
,
Paulsen
RH
,
Wayne
PM
,
Houle
TT
,
Loder
E
.
Meditation for migraines: a pilot randomized controlled trial
.
Headache
.
2014
Oct
;
54
(
9
):
1484
95
.
[PubMed]
0017-8748
19.
Omidi
A
,
Zargar
F
.
Effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction on perceived stress and psychological health in patients with tension headache
.
J Res Med Sci
.
2015
Nov
;
20
(
11
):
1058
63
.
[PubMed]
1735-1995
20.
Bakhshani
NM
,
Amirani
A
,
Amirifard
H
,
Shahrakipoor
M
.
The Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on Perceived Pain Intensity and Quality of Life in Patients With Chronic Headache
.
Glob J Health Sci
.
2015
Aug
;
8
(
4
):
142
51
.
[PubMed]
1916-9736
21.
Day
MA
,
Thorn
BE
.
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for headache pain: an evaluation of the long-term maintenance of effects
.
Complement Ther Med
.
2017
Aug
;
33
:
94
8
.
[PubMed]
0965-2299
22.
Day
MA
,
Thorn
BE
,
Rubin
NJ
.
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for the treatment of headache pain: A mixed-methods analysis comparing treatment responders and treatment non-responders
.
Complement Ther Med
.
2014
Apr
;
22
(
2
):
278
85
.
[PubMed]
0965-2299
23.
Day
MA
,
Thorn
BE
,
Ward
LC
,
Rubin
N
,
Hickman
SD
,
Scogin
F
, et al
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for the treatment of headache pain: a pilot study
.
Clin J Pain
.
2014
Feb
;
30
(
2
):
152
61
.
[PubMed]
1536-5409
24.
Whitehead
AL
,
Sully
BG
,
Campbell
MJ
.
Pilot and feasibility studies: is there a difference from each other and from a randomised controlled trial?
Contemp Clin Trials
.
2014
May
;
38
(
1
):
130
3
.
[PubMed]
1551-7144
25.
Aickin
M
.
Randomization, balance, and the validity and efficiency of design-adaptive allocation methods
.
J Stat Plan Inference
.
2001
;
94
(
1
):
97
119
. 0378-3758
26.
Aickin
M
.
Beyond randomization
.
J Altern Complement Med
.
2002
Dec
;
8
(
6
):
765
72
.
[PubMed]
1075-5535
27.
Aickin
M
.
Some large trial properties of minimum likelihood allocation
.
J Stat Plan Inference
.
1983
;
8
(
1
):
11
20
. 0378-3758
28.
Jacobson
E
.
Entspannung als Therapie: progressive Relaxation in Theorie und Praxis
. 7th ed.
Stuttgart
:
Klett-Cotta
;
2011
.
29.
Derogatis
LR
,
Melisaratos
N
.
The Brief Symptom Inventory: an introductory report
.
Psychol Med
.
1983
Aug
;
13
(
3
):
595
605
.
[PubMed]
0033-2917
30.
Franke
GH
.
Brief Symptom Inventory von L.R. Derogatis (Kurzform der SCL-90-R): BSI; Manual; Deutsche Version
.
Göttingen
:
Beltz Test Gesellschaft
;
2000
.
31.
Siegrist
J
,
Broer
M
,
Junge
A
.
Profil der Lebensqualität chronisch Kranker. Manual
.
Göttingen
:
Beltz Test Gesellschaft
;
1996
.
32.
McCracken
LM
,
Vowles
KE
,
Eccleston
C
.
Acceptance of chronic pain: component analysis and a revised assessment method
.
Pain
.
2004
Jan
;
107
(
1-2
):
159
66
.
[PubMed]
0304-3959
33.
Nilges
P
,
Köster
B
,
Schmidt
CO
.
Schmerzakzeptanz - Konzept und Uberprüfung einer deutschen Fassung des Chronic Pain Acceptance Questionnaire
.
Schmerz
.
2007
Feb
;
21
(
1
):
57
8
.
[PubMed]
0932-433X
34.
Schermelleh-Engel
K
. Fragebogen zur Schmerzregulation (FSR). Frankfurt am Main, Swets Test Services (inzwischen Harcourt Test Services),
1995
.
35.
Geissner
E
: Die Schmerzempfindungs-Skala: (SES); Handanweisung. Göttingen [u.a.], Hogrefe, Verlag für Psychologie,
1996
.
36.
Buchheld
N
,
Grossman
P
,
Walach
H
.
Measuring mindfulness in insight meditation (vipassana) and meditation-based psychotherapy: The development of the Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory (FMI)
.
J Medit Medit Res
.
2001
;
1
:
11
34
.
37.
Walach
H
,
Buchheld
N
,
Buttenmüller
V
,
Kleinknecht
N
,
Schmidt
S
. Empirische Erfassung der Achtsamkeit - Die Konstruktion des Freiburger Fragebogens zur Achtsamkeit (FFA) und weitere Validierungsstudien. In:
Heidenreich
T
,
Michalak
J
, editors
.
Achtsamkeit und Akzeptanz in der Psychotherapie
.
Tübingen
:
DGVT-Verlag
;
2004
. pp.
727
70
.
38.
Cohen
J
.
Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences
.
Hillsdale
:
L. Erlbaum Associates
;
1988
.
39.
Khoury
B
,
Sharma
M
,
Rush
SE
,
Fournier
C
.
Mindfulness-based stress reduction for healthy individuals: A meta-analysis
.
J Psychosom Res
.
2015
Jun
;
78
(
6
):
519
28
.
[PubMed]
0022-3999
40.
Holroyd
KA
,
Penzien
DB
.
Pharmacological versus non-pharmacological prophylaxis of recurrent migraine headache: a meta-analytic review of clinical trials
.
Pain
.
1990
Jul
;
42
(
1
):
1
13
.
[PubMed]
0304-3959
41.
Blanchard
EB
,
Andrasik
F
.
Psychological assessment and treatment of headache: recent developments and emerging issues
.
J Consult Clin Psychol
.
1982
Dec
;
50
(
6
):
859
79
.
[PubMed]
0022-006X
42.
Blanchard
EB
,
Andrasik
F
,
Ahles
TA
,
Teders
SJ
,
O’Keefe
D
.
Migraine and tension headache: A meta-analytic review
.
Behav Ther
.
1980
;
11
(
5
):
613
31
. 0005-7894
43.
Goslin
RE
,
Gray
RN
,
McCrory
DC
,
Penzien
D
,
Rains
J
,
Hasselblad
V
.
Behavioral and Physical Treatments for Migraine Headache. Rockville (MD)
.
US
:
Agency for Health Care Policy and Research
;
1999
.
44.
Penzien
DB
,
Holroyd
KA
,
Holm
JE
,
Hursey
KG
.
Behavioral management of migraine: results from five-dozen group outcome studies
.
Headache
.
1985
;
25
:
162
.0017-8748
45.
Eberth
J
,
Sedlmeier
P
.
The Effects of Mindfulness Meditation: A Meta-Analysis
.
Mindfulness
.
2012
;
3
(
3
):
174
89
. 1868-8527
46.
Grossman
P
,
Niemann
L
,
Schmidt
S
,
Walach
H
.
Mindfulness-based stress reduction and health benefits. A meta-analysis
.
J Psychosom Res
.
2004
Jul
;
57
(
1
):
35
43
.
[PubMed]
0022-3999
47.
Khoury
B
,
Lecomte
T
,
Fortin
G
,
Masse
M
,
Therien
P
,
Bouchard
V
, et al
Mindfulness-based therapy: a comprehensive meta-analysis
.
Clin Psychol Rev
.
2013
Aug
;
33
(
6
):
763
71
.
[PubMed]
0272-7358
48.
Grossman
P
,
Tiefenthaler-Gilmer
U
,
Raysz
A
,
Kesper
U
.
Mindfulness training as an intervention for fibromyalgia: evidence of postintervention and 3-year follow-up benefits in well-being
.
Psychother Psychosom
.
2007
;
76
(
4
):
226
33
.
[PubMed]
0033-3190
49.
Morone
NE
,
Greco
CM
,
Weiner
DK
.
Mindfulness meditation for the treatment of chronic low back pain in older adults: a randomized controlled pilot study
.
Pain
.
2008
Feb
;
134
(
3
):
310
9
.
[PubMed]
0304-3959
50.
Plews-Ogan
M
,
Owens
JE
,
Goodman
M
,
Wolfe
P
,
Schorling
J
.
A pilot study evaluating mindfulness-based stress reduction and massage for the management of chronic pain
.
J Gen Intern Med
.
2005
Dec
;
20
(
12
):
1136
8
.
[PubMed]
0884-8734
51.
Pradhan
EK
,
Baumgarten
M
,
Langenberg
P
,
Handwerger
B
,
Gilpin
AK
,
Magyari
T
, et al
Effect of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in rheumatoid arthritis patients
.
Arthritis Rheum
.
2007
Oct
;
57
(
7
):
1134
42
.
[PubMed]
0004-3591
52.
Sephton
SE
,
Salmon
P
,
Weissbecker
I
,
Ulmer
C
,
Floyd
A
,
Hoover
K
, et al
Mindfulness meditation alleviates depressive symptoms in women with fibromyalgia: results of a randomized clinical trial
.
Arthritis Rheum
.
2007
Feb
;
57
(
1
):
77
85
.
[PubMed]
0004-3591
53.
Speca
M
,
Carlson
LE
,
Goodey
E
,
Angen
M
.
A randomized, wait-list controlled clinical trial: the effect of a mindfulness meditation-based stress reduction program on mood and symptoms of stress in cancer outpatients
.
Psychosom Med
.
2000
Sep-Oct
;
62
(
5
):
613
22
.
[PubMed]
0033-3174
54.
Gaertner
J
,
Elsner
F
,
Pollmann-Dahmen
K
,
Radbruch
L
,
Sabatowski
R
.
Electronic pain diary: a randomized crossover study
.
J Pain Symptom Manage
.
2004
Sep
;
28
(
3
):
259
67
.
[PubMed]
0885-3924
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.