The effectiveness of mindfulness as a complementary therapy in headache patients: a preliminary interventional study
Emanuela Principe, Melissa Pirrotta, Nicola Fava, Carmen Marchio, Laura Catalano, Rosario Iannacchero, Domenico Bosco
Confinia Cephalalgica December 16, 2025 DOI: 10.4081/cc.2025.15788 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Pre-post intervention study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 14 |
| Population | Patients suffering from chronic migraine with medication overuse headache (MOH) and tension-type headache associated with analgesic abuse |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program |
| Duration | Eight weekly sessions |
| Topics | Anxiety Meditation |
| Keywords | Intervention counseling Mindfulness-based stress reduction Chronic pain Depression economics Guided imagery Clinical psychology Migraine Physical therapy Openness to experience Protocol science Psychological intervention Stress management Perceived stress scale Mental health |
| Key points | The MBSR protocol resulted in significant reductions in anxiety and depression, increased mindfulness, and improved perceived quality of life in patients with chronic headache-related pain. |
Abstract
Background: Recent studies have highlighted that mindfulness-based therapies, particularly the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program, can help foster greater awareness and improve the management of stress and chronic pain. Mindfulness is defined as a form of awareness that is intentionally cultivated in the present moment, characterized by an attitude of openness and non-judgment. Numerous studies have shown that the MBSR program can have positive effects on psychophysical adaptation in individuals suffering from various clinical conditions, including cardiovascular diseases, chronic pain, sleep disorders, migraine, anxiety, and depression.
Methods: The study included 14 participants suffering from chronic migraine with medication overuse headache (MOH) and tension-type headache associated with analgesic abuse. Each participant completed the MBSR protocol, consisting of eight weekly sessions. The intervention was accompanied by pre- and post-treatment assessments using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), and the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) questionnaires. Data collected at the two observation points, before (T0) and after (T1) the intervention, were subsequently analyzed to identify any statistically significant differences in scores.
Results: The application of the MBSR protocol resulted in a significant reduction in anxiety and depression levels, a notable increase in mindfulness propensity, and a significant improvement in perceived quality of life.
Conclusions: The study results confirm the effectiveness of the MBSR protocol in reducing anxiety and depression, enhancing mindfulness awareness, and improving the quality of life in patients with chronic headache-related pain. The intervention proved useful not only in managing physical pain but also in providing psychological support, thereby helping to alleviate emotional and psychosocial distress. The data suggest that MBSR can be effectively integrated into a multidisciplinary approach to chronic pain treatment, promoting overall well-being.
Comparable studies
Other non-randomized and open-label trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Relation to Quality of Life, Mood, Symptoms of Stress, and Immune Parameters in Breast and Prostate Cancer Outpatients Early-stage breast and prostate cancer patients | 2003 | Pre-post intervention study | n = 59 |
| Exploring self‐compassion and empathy in the context of mindfulness‐based stress reduction (MBSR) Community sample | 2010 | Pre-post intervention study | |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Lowers Psychological Distress In Medical Students Second-year medical students | 2003 | Prospective nonrandomized cohort-controlled study | n = 302 |
| Intensive meditation training, immune cell telomerase activity, and psychological mediators. Retreat participants and matched controls | 2011 | Controlled trial with wait-list control group | n = 60 |
| The Effectiveness of Mindfulness Training for Children with ADHD and Mindful Parenting for their Parents Children aged 8-12 with ADHD and their parents | 2011 | Within-group waitlist controlled trial | n = 22 |
Citations in the library
Cites 9
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction as a Stress Management Intervention for Healthy Individuals Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine July 22, 2014
- Efficacy of mindfulness added to treatment as usual in patients with chronic migraine and medication overuse headache: a phase-III single-blind randomized-controlled trial (the MIND-CM study). The Journal of Headache and Pain July 14, 2023
- Mindfulness Meditation for Chronic Pain: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Annals of Behavioral Medicine September 22, 2016
- The Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on Perceived Pain Intensity and Quality of Life in Patients With Chronic Headache. Global Journal of Health Science August 6, 2015
and 4 more in the library