Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Adolescents with Recurrent Headaches: A Pilot Feasibility Study
Toni Hesse, Laura Graham Holmes, Vicki Kennedy-Overfelt, Lynne M. Kerr, Lisa Giles
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2015 DOI: 10.1155/2015/508958 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Pilot nonrandomized clinical trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 20 |
| Population | Adolescent females with recurrent headaches |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based intervention |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Intervention counseling Headaches Psychotherapist Clinical psychology |
| Citations | 51 |
| Key findings | Mindfulness-based intervention was feasible and safe, improving depression, quality of life, and pain acceptance, but did not reduce headache frequency or severity. |
Abstract
Recurrent headaches cause significant burden for adolescents and their families. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have been shown to reduce stress and alter the experience of pain, reduce pain burden, and improve quality of life. Research indicates that MBIs can benefit adults with chronic pain conditions including headaches. A pilot nonrandomized clinical trial was conducted with 20 adolescent females with recurrent headaches. Median class attendance was 7 of 8 total sessions; average class attendance was 6.10 ± 2.6. Adherence to home practice was good, with participants reporting an average of 4.69 (SD = 1.84) of 6 practices per week. Five participants dropped out for reasons not inherent to the group (e.g., extracurricular scheduling); no adverse events were reported. Parents reported improved quality of life and physical functioning for their child. Adolescent participants reported improved depression symptoms and improved ability to accept their pain rather than trying to control it. MBIs appear safe and feasible for adolescents with recurrent headaches. Although participants did not report decreased frequency or severity of headache following treatment, the treatment had a beneficial effect for depression, quality of life, and acceptance of pain and represents a promising adjunct treatment for adolescents with recurrent headaches.
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
Cited by 11
- Mindfulness in migraine: A narrative review Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics January 14, 2020
- In-Person Versus eHealth Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Adolescents With Chronic Illness: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial JMIR Research Protocols November 27, 2017
- Mindfulness Interventions for Adolescents With Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. European Journal of Pain May 1, 2026
- Living With Physical Health Conditions: A Systematic Review of Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Children, Adolescents, and Their Parents. Journal of pediatric psychology April 1, 2023
- A Systematic Review of the Adherence to Home-Practice Meditation Exercises in Patients with Chronic Pain. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health March 2, 2023
and 6 more in the library
Cites 10
- Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders American Journal of Psychiatry July 1, 1992
- A Randomized, Wait-List Controlled Clinical Trial: The Effect of a Mindfulness Meditation-Based Stress Reduction Program on Mood and Symptoms of Stress in Cancer Outpatients Psychosomatic Medicine September 1, 2000
- Assessing mindfulness in children and adolescents: Development and validation of the Child and Adolescent Mindfulness Measure (CAMM). Psychological Assessment April 11, 2011
- Mindfulness-based stress reduction for the treatment of adolescent psychiatric outpatients: A randomized clinical trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 2009
- Effects of Low-Dose Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR-ld) on Working Adults Health Education & Behavior May 9, 2008
and 5 more in the library