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Active, Not Recruiting

NCT Number: NCT05979337

Brief Interventions in Chronic Migraine

People with chronic migraine headaches face many challenges, including high levels of daily pain, disturbances to everyday activities and sleep, and problems with mood such as depression or anxiety. This trial is being completed to study whether changing an individual's behaviors may have an impact as a treatment for migraine headaches.

Eligible participants will be randomized to one of the four arms. This study will be conducted remotely without in-person contact.

Study Hypothesis:

* There is a main effect of attending either the Empowered Relief and Health Education intervention on reductions in migraine-related disability 1 month after completing either intervention * There is a main effect of Empowered Relief and Health Education interventions on reducing pain-related catastrophizing and migraine symptom severity 1 month after completing either intervention (secondary hypothesis) * The expected reductions in migraine-related disability, pain catastrophizing, and migraine symptom severity will be maintained at secondary time points (2 months, 3 months, and 6 months after completing either intervention) (secondary hypothesis)

Active, Not Recruiting

This study is active but is not currently recruiting participants.

Key information

Conditions

Chronic Migraine Adherence Interventions Behavior Health Behavior Health Education Medication Adherence Patient Acceptance of Health Care Patient Compliance Treatment Adherence and Compliance

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of Michigan

Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Self-reported neurologist diagnosis of chronic migraine
  • Meets diagnostic criteria for chronic migraine according to the Identify Chronic Migraine (IDCM) self-reported instrument
  • English-speaking
  • Internet access and audio-visual conferencing capability (e.g., Zoom meetings by phone or computer) in the home
  • Age 18 years or older

Exclusion criteria

  • Currently receiving cognitive-behavioral therapy for pain or migraine
  • Open litigation regarding a medical condition, as assessed in preliminary study screening
  • Inability to provide informed consent and complete study procedures (e.g., indications of suspected major cognitive impairment via observations of study staff during consenting) that would preclude comprehension or participation in study protocols
  • Failure to complete at least 7 out of 14 pre-intervention daily diaries

Treatment and study plan

Empowered Relief

Behavioral

This is a single-session (2-hour) behavioral intervention utilizing pain psychology principles (cognitive-behavioral therapy for pain, pain neuroscience education).

Class will take place over zoom and have up to 25 participants. The Zoom classes will not be recorded. Participant will be asked to have the camera on during the entire class for treatment course/class validity. Participants are not required to speak during the class but are welcome to ask questions.

Participants will complete daily diaries for 14 days prior to attending study classes, and another 14 days after completing study classes.

In addition, participants will complete questionnaires and information about medical and personal history, symptoms, mood, sleep, medication use, and ability to function in daily life.

Health Education (HE)

Behavioral

This is a single-session (2-hour) health education class reviewing principles of medically indicated self-management of migraine headaches (e.g., consistent dietary and hydration habits, exercise, understanding of and adherence to medical treatment regimens).

Class will take place over zoom and have up to 25 participants. The Zoom classes will not be recorded. Participant will be asked to have the camera on during the entire class for treatment course/class validity. Participants are not required to speak during the class but are welcome to ask questions.

Participants will complete daily diaries for 14 days prior to attending study classes, and another 14 days after completing study classes.

In addition, participants will complete questionnaires and information about medical and personal history, symptoms, mood, sleep, medication use, and ability to function in daily life.

Treatment as Usual

Behavioral

Participants will complete questionnaires and information about medical and personal history, symptoms, mood, sleep, medication use, and ability to function in daily life. In addition, participants will complete daily diaries for 28 days.

If participants are interested in attending classes that were not part of this group assignment, participants will be invited to do so after completing the 6-month follow-up questionnaire.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Migraine Disability Assessment Test - 28 Day Version (MIDAS-28) Scores

    Time frame: Baseline, 1 month

    The MIDAS is a 5-item questionnaire to measure the impact of headaches on life. Subjects indicate how many days headaches have impacted a specific activity. Score ranges: 0-5: little or no disability; 6-10: mild disability; 11-20: moderate disability: 21 (+) severe disability.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in Migraine Disability Assessment Test - 28 Day Version (MIDAS-28) Scores

    Time frame: Baseline, 2 months

    The MIDAS-28 is a 5-item questionnaire to measure the impact of headaches on life. Subjects indicate how many days headaches have impacted a specific activity. Score ranges: 0-5: little or no disability; 6-10: mild disability; 11-20: moderate disability: 21 (+) severe disability.

  2. Change in Migraine Disability Assessment Test - 28 Day Version (MIDAS-28) Scores

    Time frame: Baseline, 3 months

    The MIDAS-28 is a 5-item questionnaire to measure the impact of headaches on life. Subjects indicate how many days headaches have impacted a specific activity. Score ranges: 0-5: little or no disability; 6-10: mild disability; 11-20: moderate disability: 21 (+) severe disability.

  3. Change in Migraine Disability Assessment Test - 28 Day Version (MIDAS-28) Scores

    Time frame: Baseline, 6 months

    The MIDAS-28 is a 5-item questionnaire to measure the impact of headaches on life. Subjects indicate how many days headaches have impacted a specific activity. Score ranges: 0-5: little or no disability; 6-10: mild disability; 11-20: moderate disability: 21 (+) severe disability.

  4. Change Migraine Symptom Severity Scale (MSSS)

    Time frame: Baseline, 1 month

    A composite score of 7 self-report questions that incorporates information about headache criteria (unilateral pain, pulsatile pain, moderate, or severe pain intensity, routine activities worsen pain, nausea, photophobia, and phonophobia). The overall MSSS score ranges from 0 to 21 calculated by adding scores ranging from 0 to 3 for each of the 7 headache features assessed.

  5. Change Migraine Symptom Severity Scale (MSSS)

    Time frame: Baseline, 2 month

    A composite score of 7 self-report questions that incorporates information about headache criteria (unilateral pain, pulsatile pain, moderate, or severe pain intensity, routine activities worsen pain, nausea, photophobia, and phonophobia). The overall MSSS score ranges from 0 to 21 calculated by adding scores ranging from 0 to 3 for each of the 7 headache features assessed.

  6. Change Migraine Symptom Severity Scale (MSSS)

    Time frame: Baseline, 3 month

    A composite score of 7 self-report questions that incorporates information about headache criteria (unilateral pain, pulsatile pain, moderate, or severe pain intensity, routine activities worsen pain, nausea, photophobia, and phonophobia). The overall MSSS score ranges from 0 to 21 calculated by adding scores ranging from 0 to 3 for each of the 7 headache features assessed.

  7. Change Migraine Symptom Severity Scale (MSSS)

    Time frame: Baseline, 6 month

    A composite score of 7 self-report questions that incorporates information about headache criteria (unilateral pain, pulsatile pain, moderate, or severe pain intensity, routine activities worsen pain, nausea, photophobia, and phonophobia). The overall MSSS score ranges from 0 to 21 calculated by adding scores ranging from 0 to 3 for each of the 7 headache features assessed.

  8. Change in Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS)

    Time frame: Baseline, 1 month

    The PCS has 13 items rated on 5 point scales from 0 (not at all) to 4 (all the time). Total scores range from 0-52. Higher scores are worse.

  9. Change in Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS)

    Time frame: Baseline, 2 month

    The PCS has 13 items rated on 5 point scales from 0 (not at all) to 4 (all the time). Total scores range from 0-52. Higher scores are worse.

  10. Change in Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS)

    Time frame: Baseline, 3 month

    The PCS has 13 items rated on 5 point scales from 0 (not at all) to 4 (all the time). Total scores range from 0-52. Higher scores are worse.

  11. Change in Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS)

    Time frame: Baseline, 6 month

    The PCS has 13 items rated on 5 point scales from 0 (not at all) to 4 (all the time). Total scores range from 0-52. Higher scores are worse.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Michigan

Other

Collaborators

  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

Registry information

Official study title

Brief Behavioral Interventions for Adults With Chronic Migraine

Important dates

Study start
2023
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2027
First posted
Aug 7, 2023
Registry last updated
May 8, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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