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Utility of a Novel, Combined Biofeedback-Virtual Reality Device as Adjunctive Treatment for Chronic Migraine

ClinicalTrials.gov · COMPLETED, 2022

50 participants

Abstract

Migraine is a common, debilitating neurologic condition affecting more than 900 million individuals worldwide. Established treatments for migraine include medications, vitamin and herbal supplements, neuromodulation, and behavioral treatment strategies. This study aims to determine whether a novel, home-based behavioral approach, combined biofeedback-virtual reality therapy, can improve self-reported migraine-related outcomes in individuals living with chronic migraine.

In this randomized, controlled pilot study, 50 adults with chronic migraine are randomized to the experimental group (frequent use of a heart rate variability biofeedback-virtual reality device plus standard medical care; n=25) or wait-list control group (standard medical care alone; n=25). The primary outcome is reduction in mean monthly headache days between groups at 12 weeks. Secondary outcomes include mean change in acute analgesic use frequency, depression, migraine-related disability, stress, insomnia, and catastrophizing between groups at 12 weeks. Tertiary outcomes include change in heart rate variability and device-related user experience measures.

Conditions: Chronic Migraine, Behavioral Treatment, Biofeedback, Virtual Reality, Medication Overuse Headache.

Primary outcome: Mean headache days per month.

Enrollment: 50 participants.

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design. Reported size: 50 participants or records.

How the five levels of evidence work. The level is assigned automatically from the abstract and can be wrong, so check the paper.

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