Feasibility and effect of mindfulness approach by web for chronic migraine and high-frequency episodic migraine without aura at in adolescents during and after COVID emergency: preliminary findings

Abstract

Background Migraine disorders are common among adolescents: however, the efficacy of medical prophylaxis is limited in this population. This study reports preliminary findings on the feasibility and effect of a mindfulness-based intervention delivered via web for adolescents with chronic migraine (CM) and high-frequency episodic migraine (HFEM) without aura. Methods Patients with CM or HFEM received six session of a mindfulness-based treatment and were followed-up for 6 months as part of a larger study. Repeated measure analyses were carried out to test the effect of this behavioral intervention. Results A total of 12 patients were included in this analysis. A significant improvement was observed up to 6 months for headache frequency, symptoms of depression, and catastrophizing, and up to 3 months for patients’ disability. No change was detected for patients’ anxiety level. Conclusions The results of our study provides initial support to the hypothesis that patients’ education and mindfulness-based programs can be very useful in populations of adolescents with CM or HFEM.

A Single-Group Study on the Effect of OnabotulinumtoxinA in Patients with Chronic Migraine Associated with Medication Overuse Headache: Pain Catastrophizing Plays a Role

“…Pain catastrophizing has been shown to have a role in the process of improvement, in particular following behavioral interventions such as mindfulness and acceptance and commitment therapy [ 30 , 35 , 36 , 37 ], but also in relation to pharmacological prophylaxis with erenumab and galcanezumab [ 38 , 39 ], as well as in educational programs [ 40 ]. On the contrary, relations between catastrophizing and migraine in patients on OnabotulinumtoxinA therapy was not systematically addressed, with a single study showing improvement in catastrophizing over a six-month period in patients with CM-MOH receiving OnabotulinumtoxinA treatment [ 41 ].…”

The Be-Home Kids Program: An Integrated Approach for Delivering Behavioral Therapies to Adolescents with Episodic and Chronic Migraine

“…Six weekly 60 min sessions were scheduled in order to discuss strategies to manage pain and stressful situations that can induce pain episodes and to reinforce the mindfulness practice as previously described [ 14 , 17 , 18 ]. Sessions were guided by an experienced neurologist (L.G., a leading expert in mindfulness practice for patients with headache disorders) and were held in groups.…”

“…We present the results of a pilot study [ 14 ] performed during the COVID-19 emergency, named the Be-Home Kids program. The Be-Home included education on the correct use of drugs, on lifestyle issues, and the delivery of six sessions of a mindfulness-based behavioral approach, by a specific web platform.…”

How the COVID-19 emergency changed our modality to treat patients with migraine: a positive aspect of the pandemic

“…They received six sessions of a mindfulness-based treatment and were followed up for 6 months as part of a larger study. Repeated measure analyses comprised 12 patients who completed the 6-month follow-up and who showed a significant improvement for headache frequency, symptoms of depression, and catastrophizing [ 3 ].…”