Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to Improve Disability in Chronic Migraine
Does Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Improve Disability in Chronic Migraine? A Randomized Headache Center Trial
Who can join
Ages 18 to 65 · All sexes
Full eligibility criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Willingness and ability to engage in the consent process * Willingness to participate in the study, despite randomization outcome * Availability for the duration of the study * Diagnosis of chronic migraine followed at the Graham Headache Center * Access to the necessary resources for participating in a technology-based intervention Exclusion Criteria: * Known major depression or other psychiatric condition * Non-English speaking * Secondary headache diagnosis * Psychotherapy in the prior 18 months * Any reason the provider feels would limit participant ability to learn or practice ACT * Any previous experience with mindfulness or meditation approaches
About the study
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if the behavioral treatment called Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) works to improve disability in adults with chronic migraine. The main questions it aims to answer are:
Does the use of ACT added to usual treatment improve scores on questionnaires designed to measure daily functioning and activity? Does the use of ACT added to usual treatment improve scores on diaries designed to measure headache frequency and pain?
Researchers will compare adding ACT to usual headache treatments to usual headache treatments without ACT.
Participants who are selected for ACT will take 8 classes to learn ACT and then will practice it at home, in addition to their regular headache treatment. Those not selected will continue their regular headache treatment. Four times over the following year, participants will answer questions about their symptoms during each of four virtual visits. They will also keep a daily headache diary during the study
What is being tested
- acceptance and commitment therapy (behavioral)
Sponsor: Brigham and Women's Hospital · Participants: 40 · Started: Apr 21, 2025
Contact the study team
- Paul Rizzoli, MD · Phone: 617 983 7580
Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT06795867
Locations in the U.S.
| Massachusetts | Brigham and Women's / Faulkner Hospital, Boston |
Conditions
From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Oct 2, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.