Authors:
Denver Shipman, PharmD, BCPP
Elizabeth Cook, PharmD, AE-C, BCACP, CDCES
Reviewers:
Shilpa Klocke, PharmD, BCPS
Rebecca Castner, PharmD, BCACP, AAHIVP
Citation: Wells RE, O’Connell N, Pierce CR, et al. Effectiveness of Mindfulness Meditation vs Headache Education for Adults With Migraine: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Intern Med. 2021;181 (3): 317-328.
The Problem:
Approximately 12% of the United States’ population suffers from migraine headaches. Insufficient treatment of migraine not only negatively impacts patients, but causes a major “headache” for the healthcare system, costing approximately $36 billion for treatment, evaluation, and lost productivity costs in the United States alone.1 Unfortunately, up to two-thirds of patients discontinue prophylactic or abortive migraine therapies due to ineffectiveness or adverse effects.2 This begs the question: Can we improve migraine outcomes without resorting to more medications? Can mindfulness exercises help migraine sufferers find their “Zen”?