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

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.

Automated summary

This study suggests that a mindfulness-based intervention delivered via web can be effective in reducing headache frequency, symptoms of depression, and catastrophizing, as well as improving disability in adolescents with chronic migraine and high-frequency episodic migraine. However, no significant change was observed in anxiety level. These findings provide initial support for the use of patient education and mindfulness-based programs in this population.