Responding With Evidence and Access for Childhood Headaches

March 4, 2026 updated by: Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Via Telehealth + Amitriptyline Compared to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Via Telehealth: Pediatric Migraine Prevention (Responding With Evidence and Access for Childhood Headaches)

This comparative effectiveness study will clarify current first-line preventive treatment approaches for use by neurologists, psychologists, and primary care providers in the context of real world care, and will demonstrate the feasibility of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) via telehealth for youth with migraine. The focus is on applying evidence-based care and enhancing access to it. CBT via telehealth while taking a clinically-prescribed, pill-based prevention therapy (amitriptyline) will be compared to CBT via telehealth alone.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Migraine is the second most disabling disease in the world. Research has primarily focused on treating migraine in adults; however, approximately 10% of children and adolescents have migraine, suggesting that up to 7 million youth are impacted in the United States alone. Given that the majority of youth have migraine symptoms that persist into adulthood, there is a critical need to identify and improve access to the most effective preventive migraine treatments for this population as a means of reducing the long-term healthcare burden and functional impairment of this illness.

This comparative effectiveness study will test CBT while taking a clinically-prescribed, pill-based prevention therapy (amitriptyline) to CBT alone.

Participants will be involved in the study for approximately 28 weeks, with the first 4 weeks being a baseline period and the next 8 weeks involving six telehealth CBT sessions for both study groups (CBT while taking a clinically-prescribed pill-based prevention therapy [amitriptyline] compared to CBT alone), and dose titration of clinically-prescribed medication (amitriptyline) for the CBT + clinically-prescribed, pill-based prevention therapy (amitriptyline) group. During the remaining 16 weeks the participants will maintain the dose of medication (in the CBT + clinically-prescribed, pill-based prevention therapy (amitriptyline) group) and attend "booster" CBT sessions held three times over 4 months.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

400

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Alabama
      • Birmingham, Alabama, United States, 35233
        • Recruiting
        • University of Alabama at Birmingham Children's of Alabama
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Scott Turner, DNP
        • Contact:
    • Arizona
      • Phoenix, Arizona, United States, 85016-7710
        • Recruiting
        • Phoenix Children's Hospital - Barrow Neurological Institute
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Reena Rastogi, Md
        • Contact:
    • California
      • San Francisco, California, United States, 94115
        • Recruiting
        • University of California San Francisco
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Hannah Shapiro, MD
        • Contact:
    • Colorado
      • Aurora, Colorado, United States, 80045
    • Delaware
      • Wilmington, Delaware, United States, 19810
        • Recruiting
        • Nemours Children's Health System
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Judy Adelizzi-Delany, DNP
    • Georgia
      • Atlanta, Georgia, United States, 30328
        • Recruiting
        • Clinical Integrative Research Center of Atlanta, Inc
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Frank Berenson, MD
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Chaouki Khoury, MD
    • Kentucky
      • Louisville, Kentucky, United States, 40292
    • Louisiana
      • New Orleans, Louisiana, United States, 70118-5720
        • Recruiting
        • Louisiana State Univ/Children's Hospital of New Orleans
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Rashmi Rao, MD
    • New York
      • Amherst, New York, United States, 14226
        • Recruiting
        • Dent Neurological Institute
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Jennifer McVige, MD
    • Ohio
      • Cincinnati, Ohio, United States, 45229
        • Recruiting
        • Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Joanne Kacperski, MD
      • Columbus, Ohio, United States, 43205
    • Pennsylvania
      • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19104
        • Recruiting
        • Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Christina Szperka, MD
    • Tennessee
      • Memphis, Tennessee, United States, 38103
        • Recruiting
        • University of Tennessee Health Science Center/ LeBonheur Children's Hospital
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Ankita Gosh, MD
        • Contact:
    • Texas
      • Austin, Texas, United States, 78712
        • Recruiting
        • Dell Children's Hospital-UT Health
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Sara Pavitt, MD
    • West Virginia
      • Huntington, West Virginia, United States, 25701
        • Recruiting
        • Marshall Health
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Ivan Lopez, MD

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Diagnosis: Migraine with or without aura that meets the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD) criteria 5 or presentation of continuous headache that includes migranous episodes based upon headache history obtained by site PI or designee. (includes presentation with or without medication overuse headache as well)
  • Headache Frequency: 4 or more headache days based upon prospective headache diary of 28 days prior to randomization
  • Amitriptyline Eligible: Site PI or medical staff determined participant to be eligible for clinical prescription of amitriptyline as a preventive treatment for migraine
  • English fluency: Able to complete the study visits and questionnaires in English

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Current treatment includes amitriptyline and/or CBT specific to headache care
  • Current prescribed preventive antimigraine medication within a period equivalent to < 5 half-lives of that medication before entering the baseline phase
  • Current treatment with onabotulinumtoxinA (Botox) or CGRP-based monoclonal antibody medications for migraine prevention
  • Youth who are pregnant
  • Report of current or ongoing suicidal thoughts. Suicide attempt within the past six months. History of bipolar disorder, prolonged QT, or pre-existing significant constipation or gastroparesis
  • Any and all other diagnoses or conditions which, in the opinion of the site investigator, would prevent the patient from being a suitable candidate for the study or interfere with the medical care needs of the participant

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: CBT while taking a clinically-prescribed, pill-based prevention therapy (amitriptyline)
This intervention consists of Cognitive Behavioral (CBT), a mind and body based intervention using education on gate control theory of pain, behavioral strategies such as muscle relaxation, activity pacing, and cognitive strategies including distraction, problem solving, and using calming self-statements. This arm will also take a daily oral dose of Amitriptyline, which will be clinically prescribed and managed by the patient's headache provider.
Behavioral: CBT
During an 8-week active treatment, participants will receive 6 telehealth CBT sessions, followed by a maintenance phase (16 weeks) when participants will receive 3 "booster" CBT sessions. The sessions will be conducted by teletherapists from the Clinical Coordinating Center at Cincinnati Children's using a standardized treatment manual. A parent/legal guardian will be included in 2 sessions teaching ways to be active coaches, encouraging use of effective coping skills and refraining from reinforcement of maladaptive coping. Each session will be about 45 minutes.
Other Names:
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Drug: Amitriptyline
During an 8-week active treatment, participants will begin taking a daily pill (amitriptyline) prescribed and managed clinically by the site headache provider. Amitriptyline will be taken once a day before bedtime. The weight based dosage will gradually be increased based on tolerability and a standardized titration protocol during the 8 week active treatment. The participant will remain on a maximum tolerated dose for the final 16 weeks (maintenance).
Experimental: CBT alone
This intervention arm consists of 6 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), a mind and body based intervention using education on gate control theory of pain, behavioral strategies such as muscle relaxation, activity pacing, and cognitive strategies including distraction, problem solving, and using calming self-statements.
Behavioral: CBT
During an 8-week active treatment, participants will receive 6 telehealth CBT sessions, followed by a maintenance phase (16 weeks) when participants will receive 3 "booster" CBT sessions. The sessions will be conducted by teletherapists from the Clinical Coordinating Center at Cincinnati Children's using a standardized treatment manual. A parent/legal guardian will be included in 2 sessions teaching ways to be active coaches, encouraging use of effective coping skills and refraining from reinforcement of maladaptive coping. Each session will be about 45 minutes.
Other Names:
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in number of headache days
Time Frame: baseline to weeks 4-8 to weeks 20-24 (post treatment)
This outcome measures whether there is a 50% reduction in the number of headaches days based on a self reported daily headache diary, per 28-day period, between the two arms.
baseline to weeks 4-8 to weeks 20-24 (post treatment)
Reduction to a PedMIDAS score of 20 or less
Time Frame: baseline to weeks 20-24 (post treatment)

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 last three months of enrollment).

This outcome measures whether there is a reduction in migraine related disability measured by the Pediatric Migraine Disability Scale (PedMIDAS) between the two arms. A reduction to a score of 20 or less, indicating mild impact of less is a meaningful outcome for patients and families and considered clinically significant.
baseline to weeks 20-24 (post treatment)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in absolute headache disability score on PedMIDAS
Time Frame: baseline to weeks 20-24 (post treatment)

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 post treatment visit (covering last 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 weeks 20-24 (post treatment)
Change in absolute reduction in severe headache days
Time Frame: baseline to weeks 20-24 (post treatment)
This outcome measures whether there is an absolute reduction in the number of severe headache days based on a self-reported daily headache diary, per 28-day period, between the two arms.
baseline to weeks 20-24 (post treatment)
Change in absolute headache days
Time Frame: baseline to weeks 4-8 to weeks 20-24 (post treatment)
This outcome measures whether there is an absolute reduction in the number of headache days based on a self-reported daily headache diary, per 28-day period, between the two arms.
baseline to weeks 4-8 to weeks 20-24 (post treatment)
Safety and tolerability of treatments (CBT and Amitriptyline)
Time Frame: randomization to weeks 20-24 (post treatment)
This outcome measures the safety and participant satisfaction of both treatment arms by examining the number of participants who complete the CBT sessions (both arms) and the number of participants who continue to take the Amitriptyline (CBT+pill group).
randomization to weeks 20-24 (post treatment)

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Exploratory: Change in self-reported physical and psychosocial functioning (functional impact)
Time Frame: baseline to weeks 20-24 (post treatment)

The functional disability inventory (FDI) scale evaluates self-reported difficulty in physical health and psychosocial functioning due to physical health. The FDI contains 15 items related to activity limitations that are rated on a 5-point scale (0-no trouble; 4-Impossible). Scores range from 0 to 60, with higher scores indicating greater disability. The total score will be used in this study.

Questions are answered by the youth in consultation with their parents and reviewed by study staff. The FDI is administered at baseline (covering the three months prior to enrollment) and at the endpoint visit (covering last three months of enrollment).
baseline to weeks 20-24 (post treatment)
Exploratory: Change in self-reported quality of life
Time Frame: baseline to weeks 20-24 (post treatment)

The Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) is a measure that is commonly used for comprehensive assessment of the impact of chronic illness. The 23-item pediatric self- and parent-report scales are validated for ages 5-18 and include items covering the domains of Physical, Social, Emotional and School Functioning. A total score is calculated by transforming 0-4 scaled items to a 0-100 scale and computing an average. The total score will be used in this study.

The PedsQL is administered at baseline (covering the three months prior to enrollment) and at the endpoint visit (covering last three months of enrollment).
baseline to weeks 20-24 (post treatment)
Exploratory: Impact of social determinants of health
Time Frame: baseline
This exploratory outcome examines the impact of participant demographics (e.g. sex, gender, race, ethnicity, household income, housing, food, and transportation security, zip code) on primary outcomes.
baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati

Collaborators

Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Scott Powers, PhD, Cincinnati Childrens Medical Center, Cincinnati

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

August 22, 2023

Primary Completion (Estimated)

July 31, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 31, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 10, 2023

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 22, 2023

First Posted (Actual)

June 5, 2023

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

March 6, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 4, 2026

Last Verified

March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • REACH Study (Allergan, Inc.)
  • MP-2021C3-24936 (Other Grant/Funding Number: PCORI)

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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