emerging medicine
By Rachel Farrell
In the Moment
New research investigates the effectiveness of mindfulnessbased cognitive therapy for migraine and headache sufferers.
FOR YEARS, migraine and headache patients have looked to alternative therapies, such as meditation, biofeedback and acupuncture, to help manage their condition. One newer therapy that is gaining traction in the headache community is mindfulness-based cognitive therapy( MBCT), a method of managing pain and negative feelings by focusing on the moment and accepting life’ s challenges.
In a study being conducted at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, researchers with grants from the National Headache Foundation and the Marchionne Foundation are investigating the effectiveness of MBCT for chronic headache pain. MBCT teaches people skills to manage pain so it doesn’ t get in the way of everyday life, says Melissa Day, a senior graduate student and sub-investigator for the trial.
“ The program likely won’ t remove your pain, but it will help you work with the pain and potentially remove the extra baggage you pile on top of it,” she says.“ It helps one regain appreciation of the things that are often overshadowed by the all-encompassing identity of being a chronic headache pain patient.”
The interest in MBCT as it pertains to migraine and headache stems from a belief that“ living in the moment” will be especially beneficial for headache patients.
“ Many headache patients are highly driven, detail-oriented individuals,” says Beverly Thorn, PhD, principal investigator on the study.“ An approach that deliberately targets cultivating awareness and acceptance of the moment is a radical shift for such persons. We believe
This study is currently recruiting patients in the Birmingham and Tuscaloosa, Ala., areas. They are seeking patients age 19 years or older who have suffered from migraine or headache pain for at least three days per month for the past three months. Participants must have no history of seizure or facial neuralgia, as these conditions might preclude the accurate diagnosis of headache. If you are on psychotropic or headache medications, you must have been using them for at least four weeks prior to treatment. Patients can continue to sign up for the study through March 2012. If you are interested in participating, please contact Beverly E. Thorn, PhD, at( 205) 348-5024 or bthorn @ as. ua. edu. You can also contact Melissa Day at( 205) 348-5024 or day014 @ crimson. ua. edu.
14 HEAD WISE | Volume 1, Issue 2 • 2011