Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to Improve Disability in Chronic Migraine

Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18-65
SponsorBrigham and Women's Hospital

About this trial

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if the behavioral treatment called Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) works to improve disability in adults with chronic migraine. The main questions it aims to answer are:

Does the use of ACT added to usual treatment improve scores on questionnaires designed to measure daily functioning and activity? Does the use of ACT added to usual treatment improve scores on diaries designed to measure headache frequency and pain?

Researchers will compare adding ACT to usual headache treatments to usual headache treatments without ACT.

Participants who are selected for ACT will take 8 classes to learn ACT and then will practice it at home, in addition to their regular headache treatment. Those not selected will continue their regular headache treatment. Four times over the following year, participants will answer questions about their symptoms during each of four virtual visits. They will also keep a daily headache diary during the study

Eligibility criteria

This trial does not accept healthy volunteers

Qualifiers

Willingness and ability to engage in the consent process

Willingness to participate in the study, despite randomization outcome

Availability for the duration of the study

Diagnosis of chronic migraine followed at the Graham Headache Center

Disqualifiers

Known major depression or other psychiatric condition

Non-English speaking

Secondary headache diagnosis

Psychotherapy in the prior 18 months

Trial design

Design model

Parallel

Treatments tested in this trial

  • acceptance and commitment therapy

    Behavioral

    a 'third wave behavioral management

Treatment groups

40 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groups
Group A: ACT plus usual treatmentActive comparator 1 intervention
Group B: Usual treatment aloneNo intervention 0 interventions

Trial outcomes

Primary outcomes

1

Change in Headache Disability Index

Change in Headache Disability Index from baseline to 3 months. Scores at 3 months minus scores at baseline.

Time frame
3 months

Secondary outcomes

1

Disability Measures

Headache Disability Index.

Time frame
Baseline, 3,6 and 12 months
2

Anxiety Assessment

Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale

Time frame
Baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months
3

Catastrophizing Score

Patient Catastrophizing Scale

Time frame
Baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months
4

Mindfulness Assessment

Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire

Time frame
Baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months

Other outcomes

1

Abortive Medication Use

Headache Diary

Time frame
Through study completion

Sponsors and contacts

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