Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Added to Usual Treatment for Adults With Chronic Migraine to Improve Disability

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying whether Acceptance and Commitment Therapy ACT, a behavioral treatment, can improve disability in adults with chronic migraine when added to their usual headache treatments. This trial focuses on whether ACT helps improve daily functioning and reduce headache frequency and pain, comparing results from patients receiving ACT plus usual care to those receiving usual care alone. The study is a randomized, open-label phase II pilot trial conducted at a single site. Participants assigned to ACT will attend eight virtual group sessions over two months, learning skills like acceptance, mindfulness, and committed actions to improve psychological flexibility and reduce migraine-related disability. After the training, they will practice ACT at home alongside their regular headache treatment. Those not assigned to ACT will continue with their usual treatment without additional intervention. Follow-up assessments will occur at 3, 6, and 12 months after baseline. During the study, participants will complete questionnaires at baseline and follow-up visits to assess disability, anxiety, catastrophizing, and mindfulness. They will also keep daily headache diaries to track headache frequency, pain, medication intake, and ACT practice. Attendance and adherence to the ACT sessions will be monitored. Participants may withdraw at any time, and safety monitoring includes recording reasons for discontinuation and adverse events. The total study duration for each participant is about one year.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to Improve Disability in Chronic Migraine