Mind Body Balance for Pediatric Migraine

This study uses a factorial research design to evaluate a nurse delivered mind body intervention using different doses of 3 treatment components to determine the optimized treatment for headache day reduction.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Migraine; Migraine Disorders; Headache; Headache Disorders; Chronic Migraine; Migraine Without Aura; Migraine With Aura; Headache, Migraine
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: 40 minute session; Behavioral: home practice e-health; Behavioral: phone call; Behavioral: home practice handout; Behavioral: 20 minute session

Detailed Description

In the United States, over 6 million children and adolescents suffer from migraine headaches and it is 1 of the 5 most prevalent childhood disorders. Mind and body approaches can significantly help these youth, but getting access to this type of treatment is a challenge for families. Our mind and body study will test a mind and body intervention package delivered by health care professionals (i.e., nurses) introducing coping skills to youth ages 10 to 17 that have migraine.

Using a factorial design and the multiphase optimization strategy "MOST", in this study we are able to evaluate different doses of 3 treatment components (1. Duration of mind and body skill introduction session; 2. Home practice support intensity; and 3. Adherence prompt phone call) in one project. A screening experiment will be conducted to determine the dose of each treatment component for future evaluation of the optimized intervention package in a pragmatic or SMART trial.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 260
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: LeighAnn Chamberlin, MEd; Phone Number: 513-636-9739; Email: leighann.chamberlin@cchmc.org

Study Locations

• United States
  • Colorado
    • Aurora, Colorado, United States, 80045
      • Active, not recruiting
      • University of Colorado/Children's Hospital Colorado
  • Ohio
    • Cincinnati, Ohio, United States, 45229
      • Recruiting
      • Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
      • Contact: Leigh Ann Chamberlin; Phone Number: 513-636-9737; Email: LeighAnn.Chamberlin@cchmc.org

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 10 years to 17 years (Child)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosis: Migraine with or without aura or chronic migraine that meets the International Classification of Headache Disorders(ICHD) criteria
• Frequency: Headache frequency based upon prospective headache diary of 28 days must be ≥ 4 and ≤ 28.
• PedMIDAS: PedMIDAS Disability Score > 4, indicating at least mild disruption in daily activities and < 140, indicating extreme disability that may require more comprehensive, multi-component therapy
• Use of one or more of the following prescribed nutraceuticals and/or preventive anti-migraine medications at the time or randomization or be on a stable dose of one or more of the following throughout the 12 weeks of the study [Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Co-Q 10 (Coenzyme Q10), Magnesium (Mg), Vitamin D2 or D3 (Erocalciferol/Cholecalciferol), Depakote (Divalproate), Inderal (Propanerol), Elavil ((Amitripyline), Topamax (Topiramate), Periactin (Cyproheptadine)]
• Language: English speaking, able to complete interviews and questionnaires in English

Exclusion Criteria:

• Continuous migraine defined as unrelenting headache for a 28 day period
• Must agree not to take non-specific acute medication, such as NSAIDS (e.g., ibuprofen), more than 3 times per week, or migraine specific acute medications, such as triptans, more than 6 times per month (to prevent medication overuse headache)
• PedMIDAS Disability Score > 140, indicating extreme disability that may require more comprehensive, multi-component therapy
• Youth who are pregnant, or those who are sexually active and not using a medically accepted form of contraception (barrier or hormonal methods)
• Present severe psychiatric disease, alcohol or drug dependence, or documented developmental delays or impairments (e.g., autism, cerebral palsy, or mental retardation) or other circumstances, that, in the opinion of the investigator, would interfere with adherence to study requirements or safe participation in the study

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Factorial Assignment
• Masking: Triple

Number of Arms

8

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: 40 minute session, home practice e-health, phone call; This intervention arm consists of mind body skill introduction session that is 40 minutes in duration. The daily home practice component for headache management will utilize a migraine specific interactive web portal, Migraine e-health portal. This arm will also receive a follow up phone call 4 weeks after the introductory session to promote adherence to home practice.	Behavioral: 40 minute session; The 40 minute session will include all of the content contained in the 20 minute session, but will include a greater explanation of each of the mind and body skills, followed by in vivo practice of each skill with the nurse. Sessions will also include review of home practice for each group.; Behavioral: home practice e-health; Participants will be provided and instructed on access to a migraine-specific interactive web portal, Migraine e-Health. This web-based tool actively guides participants in practicing evidence-based mind and body skills. Use of the Migraine -e-Health application for the high dose capitalizes on teaching participants mind and body skills while increasing accessibility due to implementation on mobile devices.; Behavioral: phone call; The dose of phone call will occur about 4 weeks following the face-to-face mind and body introduction session and will last approximately 5-10 minutes. The phone call will be used to promote adherence to home-practice and answer questions related to skill use/home practice completion.
Experimental: 40 minute session, home practice e-health, no phone call; This intervention arm consists of mind body skill introduction session that is 40 minutes in duration. The daily home practice component for headache management will utilize a migraine specific interactive web portal, Migraine e-health portal. This arm will not receive a follow up phone call 4 weeks after the introductory session to promote adherence to home practice.	Behavioral: 40 minute session; The 40 minute session will include all of the content contained in the 20 minute session, but will include a greater explanation of each of the mind and body skills, followed by in vivo practice of each skill with the nurse. Sessions will also include review of home practice for each group.; Behavioral: home practice e-health; Participants will be provided and instructed on access to a migraine-specific interactive web portal, Migraine e-Health. This web-based tool actively guides participants in practicing evidence-based mind and body skills. Use of the Migraine -e-Health application for the high dose capitalizes on teaching participants mind and body skills while increasing accessibility due to implementation on mobile devices.
Experimental: 40 minute session, home practice handout, phone call; This intervention arm consists of mind body skill introduction session that is 40 minutes in duration. The daily home practice component for headache management will utilize a handout with explanations of mind body skills and a home practice plan. This arm will also receive a follow up phone call 4 weeks after the introductory session to promote adherence to home practice.	Behavioral: 40 minute session; The 40 minute session will include all of the content contained in the 20 minute session, but will include a greater explanation of each of the mind and body skills, followed by in vivo practice of each skill with the nurse. Sessions will also include review of home practice for each group.; Behavioral: phone call; The dose of phone call will occur about 4 weeks following the face-to-face mind and body introduction session and will last approximately 5-10 minutes. The phone call will be used to promote adherence to home-practice and answer questions related to skill use/home practice completion.; Behavioral: home practice handout; Participants will be given a handout of commercially available free apps relevant to the mind body skills introduced.
Experimental: 40 minute session, home practice handout, no phone call; This intervention arm consists of mind body skill introduction session that is 40 minutes in duration. The daily home practice component for headache management will utilize a handout with explanations of mind body skills and a home practice plan. This arm will not receive a follow up phone call 4 weeks after the introductory session to promote adherence to home practice.	Behavioral: 40 minute session; The 40 minute session will include all of the content contained in the 20 minute session, but will include a greater explanation of each of the mind and body skills, followed by in vivo practice of each skill with the nurse. Sessions will also include review of home practice for each group.; Behavioral: home practice handout; Participants will be given a handout of commercially available free apps relevant to the mind body skills introduced.
Experimental: 20 minute session, home practice e-health, phone call; This intervention arm consists of mind body skill introduction session that is 20 minutes in duration. The daily home practice component for headache management will utilize a migraine specific interactive web portal, Migraine e-health portal. This arm will also receive a follow up phone call 4 weeks after the introductory session to promote adherence to home practice.	Behavioral: home practice e-health; Participants will be provided and instructed on access to a migraine-specific interactive web portal, Migraine e-Health. This web-based tool actively guides participants in practicing evidence-based mind and body skills. Use of the Migraine -e-Health application for the high dose capitalizes on teaching participants mind and body skills while increasing accessibility due to implementation on mobile devices.; Behavioral: phone call; The dose of phone call will occur about 4 weeks following the face-to-face mind and body introduction session and will last approximately 5-10 minutes. The phone call will be used to promote adherence to home-practice and answer questions related to skill use/home practice completion.; Behavioral: 20 minute session; For participants randomized to the 20 minute session, content will include pain education, followed by brief explanations of each of the mind and body skills, in vivo diaphragmatic breathing practice and demonstration of use of biofeedback card. Sessions will also include review of home practice for each group.
Experimental: 20 minute session, home practice e-health, no phone call; This intervention arm consists of mind body skill introduction session that is 20 minutes in duration. The daily home practice component for headache management will utilize a migraine specific interactive web portal, Migraine e-health portal. This arm will not receive a follow up phone call 4 weeks after the introductory session to promote adherence to home practice.	Behavioral: home practice e-health; Participants will be provided and instructed on access to a migraine-specific interactive web portal, Migraine e-Health. This web-based tool actively guides participants in practicing evidence-based mind and body skills. Use of the Migraine -e-Health application for the high dose capitalizes on teaching participants mind and body skills while increasing accessibility due to implementation on mobile devices.; Behavioral: 20 minute session; For participants randomized to the 20 minute session, content will include pain education, followed by brief explanations of each of the mind and body skills, in vivo diaphragmatic breathing practice and demonstration of use of biofeedback card. Sessions will also include review of home practice for each group.
Experimental: 20 minute session, home practice handout, phone call; This intervention arm consists of mind body skill introduction session that is 20 minutes in duration. The daily home practice component for headache management will utilize a handout with explanations of mind body skills and a home practice plan. This arm will also receive a follow up phone call 4 weeks after the introductory session to promote adherence to home practice.	Behavioral: phone call; The dose of phone call will occur about 4 weeks following the face-to-face mind and body introduction session and will last approximately 5-10 minutes. The phone call will be used to promote adherence to home-practice and answer questions related to skill use/home practice completion.; Behavioral: home practice handout; Participants will be given a handout of commercially available free apps relevant to the mind body skills introduced.; Behavioral: 20 minute session; For participants randomized to the 20 minute session, content will include pain education, followed by brief explanations of each of the mind and body skills, in vivo diaphragmatic breathing practice and demonstration of use of biofeedback card. Sessions will also include review of home practice for each group.
Experimental: 20 minute session, home practice handout, no phone call; This intervention arm consists of mind body skill introduction session that is 20 minutes in duration. The daily home practice component for headache management will utilize a handout with explanations of mind body skills and a home practice plan. This arm will not receive a follow up phone call 4 weeks after the introductory session to promote adherence to home practice.	Behavioral: home practice handout; Participants will be given a handout of commercially available free apps relevant to the mind body skills introduced.; Behavioral: 20 minute session; For participants randomized to the 20 minute session, content will include pain education, followed by brief explanations of each of the mind and body skills, in vivo diaphragmatic breathing practice and demonstration of use of biofeedback card. Sessions will also include review of home practice for each group.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in number of headache days	This outcomes measure examines whether the rate of absolute number of headache days, per 28 day period, differs between the treatment groups over time. This will be assessed longitudinally based on the actual number of headache days from the 28 days prior to randomization to the last 28 days before the endpoint visit.	baseline to post treatment (8 weeks post randomization)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in absolute headache disability score on PedMIDAS	The PedMIDAS scale which evaluates the impact of headaches in school, home, play, and social activities, is comprised of six items that pertain to days missed in various activities over the past 90 days. Questions are answered by the youth in consultation with their parents and reviewed by study staff. The PedMIDAS scale is administered at baseline (covering the three months prior to enrollment) and at the endpoint visit (covering three months of enrollment). A total PedMIDAS score (sum of items 1-6) was used in this study. Scores range from 0-240; with a score of 0-10 indicating no disability, 11-30 mild disability, 31-50 moderate disability, and more than 50 severe disability in daily activities.	baseline to post treatment (8 weeks post randomization)

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Feasibility and adherence to the session time component	Thresholds will be used as guides to evaluate whether the assigned intervention is feasible and whether participants can adhere to that intervention. For the session time component a threshold of reasonable feasibility/adherence is specified as: nurse fidelity to introduction dose times (20 min versus 40 min) with fidelity measured as proportion of interactions where the documented time is within 5 minutes of the intended duration (i.e., 15 to 25 minutes for the 20-minute dose and 35 to 45 minutes for the 40-minute dose, as measured by nurse report at the time of the session). The acceptable threshold will be at least 80 percent fidelity within the given time window.	baseline to post treatment (8 weeks post randomization)
Feasibility and adherence to the home practice component	Thresholds will be used as guides to evaluate whether the assigned intervention is feasible and whether participants can adhere to that intervention. For the home practice component a threshold of reasonable feasibility/adherence is specified as: eHealth versus handout - threshold >33% of practice days completed on average will be defined as sufficient adherence for both conditions.	baseline to post treatment (8 weeks post randomization)
Feasibility and adherence to the phone call component	Thresholds will be used as guides to evaluate whether the assigned intervention is feasible and whether participants can adhere to that intervention. For the phone call component a threshold of reasonable feasibility/adherence is specified as: 50% of phone calls completed will be considered feasible/adherent for the phone call follow-up. No threshold is set for the participants who do not receive a phone call follow-up.	baseline to post treatment (8 weeks post randomization)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati
• Collaborators: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Scott Powers, PhD, Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 9, 2021
• Primary Completion (Estimated): May 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): May 31, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 15, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 15, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): January 20, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 18, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 16, 2026
• Last Verified: March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: pediatrics; biofeedback; cognitive behavioral therapy; relaxation; headache; migraine; progressive muscle relaxation; diaphragmatic breathing; imagery; mind body intervention
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Headache Disorders, Primary; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Signs and Symptoms; Migraine Disorders; Headache Disorders; Headache; Migraine with Aura; Migraine without Aura
• Other Study ID Numbers: MOST Study; U01AT010132 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No