EFFICACY OF MINDFULNESS BASED INTERVENTION ON MIGRAINE PATIENTS: A RANDOMIZED CONTROL TRIAL

Migraine is a disabling neurological disorder frequently associated with psychological distress such as stress, anxiety, and depression. Conventional pharmacological treatments often provide limited relief and do not adequately address these psychological factors. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) offer a promising integrative approach targeting both physical symptoms and emotional regulation.Aim was to evaluate the efficacy of MBIs in reducing stress, anxiety, depression, and migraine-related disability among patients with migraine.A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 100 migraine patients. Participants were randomly assigned to Group A (pharmacotherapy alone) or Group B (pharmacotherapy + MBI). Standardized tools—the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) and the Migraine Disability Assessment Scale (MIDAS)—were administered pre- and post-intervention. Data were analyzed using paired and independent t-tests, ANCOVA, and effect size calculations.The intervention group (MBI + pharmacotherapy) showed significantly greater improvements than controls across all domains. Mean reductions were stress (–11.94), anxiety (–14.90), depression (–9.48), and MIDAS (–20.00), with all p < 0.0001. Effect sizes were very large for stress (d = 2.88), anxiety (d = 4.81), and depression (d = 3.51), and large for MIDAS (d = 1.10). Clinical improvement (≥25% symptom reduction) was achieved by 84% of the intervention group compared with 56% of controls.MBIs are highly effective in reducing psychological distress and disability in migraine patients. Integrating MBIs with pharmacotherapy provides a cost-effective, culturally adaptable, and sustainable model for migraine management in resource-constrained healthcare settings.