title: Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for the treatment of headache pain: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This pilot study reports the findings of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) investigating the feasibility, tolerability, acceptability, and initial estimates of efficacy of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) compared to a delayed treatment (DT) control for headache pain. It was hypothesized that MBCT would be a viable treatment approach and that compared to DT, would elicit significant improvement in primary headache pain-related outcomes and secondary cognitive-related outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  RCT methodology was employed and multivariate analysis of variance models were conducted on daily headache diary data and preassessment and postassessment data for the intent-to-treat sample (N=36), and on the completer sample (N=24).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patient flow data and standardized measures found MBCT for headache pain to be feasible, tolerable, and acceptable to participants. Intent-to-treat analyses showed that compared to DT, MBCT patients reported significantly greater improvement in self-efficacy (P=0.02, d=0.82) and pain acceptance (P=0.02, d=0.82). Results of the completer analyses produced a similar pattern of findings; additionally, compared to DT, MBCT completers reported significantly improved pain interference (P<0.01, d=-1.29) and pain catastrophizing (P=0.03, d=-0.94). Change in daily headache diary outcomes was not significantly different between groups (P's>0.05, d's≤-0.24).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study empirically examined MBCT for the treatment of headache pain. Results indicated that MBCT is a feasible, tolerable, acceptable, and potentially efficacious intervention for patients with headache pain. This study provides a research base for future RCTs comparing MBCT to attention control, and future comparative effectiveness studies of MBCT and cognitive-behavioral therapy.
authors: *Department of Psychology, University of Alabama †Psychology Service, V.A. Medical Center ‡Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, The University of Alabama School of Medicine, Tuscaloosa ∥The Kilgo Headache Clinic, Northport, AL §UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness, San Diego, CA.
authors: Melissa A
authors: MA
authors: Day
authors: Beverly E
authors: BE
authors: Thorn
authors: L Charles
authors: LC
authors: Ward
authors: Nancy
authors: N
authors: Rubin
authors: Steven D
authors: SD
authors: Hickman
authors: Forrest
authors: F
authors: Scogin
authors: Gary R
authors: GR
authors: Kilgo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D020773:Headache Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D064866:Mindfulness; D009042:Motivation; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010349:Patient Compliance; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010865:Pilot Projects; D018401:Sample Size; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome