Mindfulness for female outpatients with chronic primary headaches: an internet-based bibliotherapy.
Vahid Tavallaei, Yaser Rezapour-Mirsaleh, Peyman Rezaiemaram, Seyed Hassan Saadat
European journal of translational myology April 24, 2018 DOI: 10.4081/ejtm.2018.7380 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Quasi-experimental randomized controlled trial with pre-test, post-test, and control group Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 30 |
| Population | Women with tension headaches and migraines referring to the headache clinic of Baqiyatallah Hospital in Tehran |
| Intervention | medical treatment as usual |
| Duration | 8 sessions |
| Measures | Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21), Migraine Disability Assessment Test (MIDAS), McGill Pain Questionnaire Short Form (MPQ-SF), Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Internet-based bibliotherapy Mindfulness-based stress reduction Primary headache |
| Key findings | MBSR-IBB had no significant effect on the sensory dimension of pain but significantly improved mindfulness, disability, and distress, with the largest effects on disability and distress. The authors conclude that mindfulness improved quality of life and reduced mental distress despite the presence of headaches. |
Abstract
Our aim was to investigate effectiveness of mindfulness by bibliotherapy on disability, distress, perceived pain and mindfulness in women with tension headaches and migraines. Primary headaches have been of great interest to mental health researchers because of the high prevalence, as well as significant disability and distress in the affected people. Despite the promising results of in-person treatment and some limitations that such interventions may cause, patients may be encountered with problems when using health care services. The present study is a quasi-experimental randomized design with pre-test, post-test, and control group. The study population consisted of 1396 women with migraine headache referring to headache clinic of Baqiyatallah Hospital in Tehran. Of these, 30 patients (including tboh experimental and control group) were selected by objective sampling method and were randomly assigned to the two groups. The experimental group, in addition to medical treatment as usual, was treated for a period of 8 sessions by Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction Internet-based Bibliotherapy, but the control group used only the medical treatment. The sample had no attritions. Data were collected by the four scales of (DASS-21), Migraine Disability Assessment Test (MIDAS), McGill's Short Form Questionnaire (MPQ-SF), and Mindfulness Inventory (MAAS). We used covariance analysis to analyze the findings in the measured scales. MBSR-IBB treatment had no significant effect on pain sensory dimension (P <0.44), despite improvement of mindfulness (P <0.0001). In contrast, the greatest effect was on the level of disability (P <0.0001). We observed also a significant improvement in distress (P <0.0001). In conclusion, in spite of the presence of headaches, the mindfulness improved the quality of life and reduced the level of mental distress. In addition, using the Internet-based bibliotherapy method, these services can be used with easier access, lower cost, and more flexibility.
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 6
- Mindfulness in migraine: A narrative review Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics January 14, 2020
- Online mindfulness interventions in the care of people with physical and mental health conditions: a scoping review. BMJ Open July 18, 2025
- Engagement Strategies to Improve Adherence and Retention in Web-Based Mindfulness Programs: Systematic Review Journal of Medical Internet Research August 28, 2023
- A meta-analytic review of acceptance-based interventions for migraine. Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain August 27, 2023
- Efficacy of mindfulness-based intervention for the treatment of chronic headaches: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Annals of Medicine and Surgery June 2022
and 1 more in the library
Cites 19
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Mechanisms of mindfulness Journal of Clinical Psychology December 29, 2005
- Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Psychosomatic Medicine July 1, 2003
- Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Neuroreport November 7, 2005
- Mindfulness‐Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness‐Based Cognitive Therapy – a systematic review of randomized controlled trials Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica April 28, 2011
and 14 more in the library