Meditation Practice, Mindfulness, and Pain-Related Outcomes in Mindfulness-Based Treatment for Episodic Migraine.
Carly Hunt, Janelle E. Letzen, Samuel R Krimmel, Shana A B Burrowes, Jennifer A. Haythornthwaite, Michael L. Keaser, Matthew J Reid, Patrick H. Finan, David A Seminowicz
Mindfulness April 1, 2023 DOI: 10.1007/s12671-023-02105-8 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial Preregistered Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 98 |
| Population | Migraine patients |
| Duration | 12-week intervention |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Headache Home practice Meditation practice Motivation |
| Citations | 9 |
| Key findings | Greater resting-state functional connectivity between the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and right nucleus accumbens predicted longer meditation practice duration and larger reductions in headache frequency among migraine patients in an enhanced mindfulness-based stress reduction course. |
Abstract
Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have emerged as promising prophylactic episodic migraine treatments. The present study investigated biopsychosocial predictors and outcomes associated with formal, daily-life meditation practice in migraine patients undergoing MBI, and whether augmented mindfulness mechanistically underlies change. Secondary analyses of clinical trial data comparing a 12-week enhanced mindfulness-based stress reduction course (MBSR + ; n = 50) to stress management for headache (SMH; n = 48) were conducted. Pre-treatment mesocorticolimbic system functioning (i.e., greater resting state ventromedial prefrontal cortex-right nucleus accumbens [vmPFC-rNAC] functional connectivity) predicted greater meditation practice duration over MBSR + (r = 0.58, p = 0.001), as well as the change in headache frequency from pre- to post-treatment (B = -12.60, p = 0.02) such that MBSR + participants with greater vmPFC-rNAC connectivity showed greater reductions in headache frequency. MBSR + participants who meditated more showed greater increases in mindfulness (B = 0.52, p = 0.02) and reductions in the helplessness facet of pain catastrophizing (B = -0.13, p = 0.01), but not headache frequency, severity, or impact. Augmented mindfulness mediated reductions in headache impact resulting from MBSR + , but not headache frequency. Mesocorticolimbic system function is implicated in motivated behavior, and thus, motivation-enhancing interventions might be delivered alongside mindfulness-based training to enhance meditation practice engagement. Formal, daily-life meditation practice duration appears to benefit pain-related cognitions, but not clinical pain, while mindfulness emerges as a mechanism of MBIs on headache impact, but not frequency. Further research is needed to investigate the day-to-day effects of formal, daily-life meditation practice on pain, and continue to characterize the specific mechanisms of MBIs on headache outcomes. This study is not preregistered.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 5
- Neurobiological Changes Induced by Mindfulness and Meditation: A Systematic Review. Biomedicines November 15, 2024
- fMRI-based explanations for how meditation could modulate pain processing. Frontiers in Neuroscience 2025
- Effect of brief online mindfulness-based cognitive therapy in patients with digital replantation: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials April 13, 2026
- Mindfulness Meditation: A Hellenic Perspective Through Quantitative and Qualitative Study Journal of Advances in Medicine and Medical Research January 17, 2025
- Experiences of a Neurofeedback-Based Mindfulness Meditation Intervention for Migraine: Qualitative Study. JMIR neurotechnology 2025
Cites 22
- Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Assessment January 27, 2006
- Home practice in Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction: A systematic review and meta-analysis of participants' mindfulness practice and its association with outcomes Behaviour Research and Therapy May 10, 2017
- Effect of Mindfulness‐Based stress reduction in rheumatoid arthritis patients Arthritis Care & Research September 28, 2007
- Pain Attenuation through Mindfulness is Associated with Decreased Cognitive Control and Increased Sensory Processing in the Brain Cerebral Cortex December 15, 2011
- Mindfulness-based stress reduction for treating chronic headache: A systematic review and meta-analysis Cephalalgia June 4, 2018
and 17 more in the library