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Efficacy of mindfulness based intervention on migraine patients: a randomized control trial

Mayur Chourasiya, Shikha Sharma, Jitendra Jeenger, Himadri Mulchandani

Indian Journal Of Applied Research, 2025

100 participants

Abstract

Migraine is a disabling neurological disorder frequently associated with psychological distress such as stress, anxiety, and depression. Conventional pharmacological treatments often provide limited relief and do not adequately address these psychological factors. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) offer a promising integrative approach targeting both physical symptoms and emotional regulation.Aim was to evaluate the efficacy of MBIs in reducing stress, anxiety, depression, and migraine-related disability among patients with migraine.A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 100 migraine patients. Participants were randomly assigned to Group A (pharmacotherapy alone) or Group B (pharmacotherapy + MBI). Standardized tools—the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) and the Migraine Disability Assessment Scale (MIDAS)—were administered pre- and post-intervention. Data were analyzed using paired and independent t-tests, ANCOVA, and effect size calculations.The intervention group (MBI + pharmacotherapy) showed significantly greater improvements than controls across all domains. Mean reductions were stress (–11.94), anxiety (–14.90), depression (–9.48), and MIDAS (–20.00), with all p < 0.0001. Effect sizes were very large for stress (d = 2.88), anxiety (d = 4.81), and depression (d = 3.51), and large for MIDAS (d = 1.10). Clinical improvement (≥25% symptom reduction) was achieved by 84% of the intervention group compared with 56% of controls.MBIs are highly…

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: 100 participants or records.

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