Tailored Digital Treatment for Migraine

Summary

Background: An individualized internet-based treatment program from a biopsychosocial perspective has been developed within the Västra Götaland region (VGR) with funds from the Innovation Fund. The treatment program is called Learn to live with migraine and goes by the abbreviation I AM (Internet Approach to Migraine). I AM is a complement to the medical treatment and focuses on pain management and learning to live as good a life as possible with the disease migraine. During the spring of 2022, I AM has been tested regarding the feasibility of primary care on 29 research subjects in a pilot RCT (DNR 2020-02359). A weighted preliminary assessment shows moderate effect size on mental health, that the participants accept the intervention, and that I AM with recruitment and care process can be carried out in a primary care context. Purpose: An overall purpose of the study is to evaluate the effect of the addition of the internet-based biopsychosocial treatment I AM compared to usual treatment (TREATMENT as usual - TAU) in primary care regarding frequency and severity of migraine attacks, functional level, mental health, quality of life and employment rate with a randomized controlled trial design (RCT). An additional aim is to evaluate whether it is possible to prevent episodic migraine from developing into chronic migraine among those who have episodic migraine at the start of the study via the supplement treatment program I AM. Expected results: The greatest expected benefit of I AM is to reduce the burden and suffering of migraines for all the people affected. AM is also expected to increase the availability of treatment with a biopsychosocial perspective, have a quality-enhancing effect in terms of method and increase the patient's participation in their treatment. An environmental aspect is that neither patient nor therapist need to travel, accessibility also increases for individuals living in smaller communities who receive equal treatment.

Conditions

• Migraine With Aura
• Migraine Without Aura

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

I am (internet approach to migraine)

I AM has a biopsychosocial perspective. Modules 1-3 and 10 are mandatory and for those who are in need of shorter support and module 1-10 is for those who have more frequent and severe migraines and want a long time of support and treatment. The rationale of the treatment assumes that we do not know why we get migraines and instead focus on becoming as good as possible at managing the migraine attacks. The focus area of the treatments cognitive-behavioral interventions is, among other things, psychoeducation, what migraine is and what happens in the body during migraines and pain, interpretation of symptoms and information processing, training to stop through mindfulness and becoming aware of assumptions that guide behavior during pain management, management of grief, worry, guilt and feelings of shame based on self-compassion, challenging avoidances in a valued direction through ACT interventions and physiotherapist-led cardio training and exercises.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Vastra Gotaland Region

  lead OTHER_GOV

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2023-01-01

Primary Completion

2025-12-31

Completion

2025-12-31

Countries

• Sweden

Study Locations