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Effectiveness of a Dialogue-based Online Intervention Against Migraine

Not Applicable
Active, not recruiting
Conditions
Migraine
Interventions
Behavioral: ceprica (additional to treatment as usual)
Behavioral: active control intervention (additional to treatment as usual)
Registration Number
NCT04276142
Lead Sponsor
Gaia AG
Brief Summary

This trial was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of a dialogue-based online intervention (ceprica) that provides information regarding cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) in patients with migraine.

The study aims to test the hypothesis that ceprica has a greater positive impact on migraine symptoms than an active control intervention providing psychoeducational content. Patients fulfilling ICHD-criteria for migraine will be randomized and allocated to either an intervention group, receiving ceprica in addition to treatment as usual, or a control group, which receives access to an active control intervention in addition to treatment as usual. The primary endpoint is the number of migraine days per month.

Detailed Description

Migraine is common in the German population and leads to a decreased quality of life as well as high economic consequences. Cognitive behavioural therapy has shown to be effective in the treatment of migraine. Web-based psychological interventions are easily accessible and preliminary evidence suggests that such interventions can be effective.

In this study, the treatment effects of a novel dialogue-based online intervention compared to a psychoeducational control intervention will be investigated. The interventional online program ceprica contains elements of cognitive behavioural therapy that address specific approaches in the management of pain, integrated in an individually tailored dialogue that is based on the responses given in the program. The intervention ceprica, as well as the psychoeducational control intervention, aer both delivered via the internet and protected by individually assigned passwords.

This randomised controlled trial will include 306 patients with migraine. Participants will be recruited via a website containing relevant information about the study. Participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either a control group, in which they continue their usual treatment and receive access to a psychoeducational control intervention, or an intervention group who may also use treatment as usual and in addition receives the online intervention ceprica. Data are collected at baseline (T0) and three months after allocation (T1).

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
306
Inclusion Criteria
  • age 18-65 at the time of screening
  • fulfill diagnostic criteria of migraine (ICD-10: G43.0 or G43.1, confirmed either by upload of a medical document issued by a medical specialist or by a diagnostic phone/video call with a study physician who is experienced in headache diagnostics)
  • age at onset of migraine <50y
  • Migraine is present for at least 12 months at the time of study entry
  • 4-14 migraine headache days per 28 days
  • able and willing to give signed informed consent
  • sufficient language skills in German
Exclusion Criteria
  • currently receiving preventive migraine medication within 60 days of T0, or planning to start another preventive treatment during the course of the study
  • routinely taking, or planning to take, gepant-type acute migraine medication (e.g., rimegepant)
  • Botulinum toxin A and B administered in the head or neck area within 4 months prior to T0
  • patients with a history of failure to respond to 3 or more classes of migraine preventive treatments with good scientific evidence
  • patients with regular intake of analgesics for other reasons than headache (e.g., chronic back pain, (rheumatoid) arthritis, cancer, injuries/accidents)
  • patients with incomplete headache diaries at baseline (>6 non-consecutive days within 28 days missing)
  • patients with substance use disorder

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Migraine - cepricaceprica (additional to treatment as usual)online program: ceprica in addition to treatment as usual
Migraine - active control interventionactive control intervention (additional to treatment as usual)active control intervention: psychoeducation in addition to treatment as usual
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Number of days with migraine headache3 months

Change since baseline in migraine headache days per 28 days; assessed via diary

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Anxiety symptoms3 months

measured via Generalized Anxiety Disorder Assessment (GAD-7); scale range: 0 to 21

Use of acute migraine medication3 months

change from baseline in days with use of acute migraine medication per 28 days; assessed via diary

Migraine-related disability3 months

assessed via the Headache Impact Test (HIT-6); scale range from 36-78

Number of moderate/severe headache days3 months

Change since baseline in moderate/severe headache days per 28 days; assessed via diary

Migraine days responder rate3 months

Proportion of participants achieving at least 50% reduction from baseline in migraine days

Functional impairment due to migraine3 months

Assessed via the Functional Impairment Scale on each day of the 28-day diary period; scale range: 0-3

Headache-related pain intensity3 months

assessed via a categorical, four-point verbal rating scale (no pain, mild pain, moderate pain, severe pain) on each day of each 28-day diary period

Depressive symptoms3 months

measured via Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9); scale range: 0 to 27

Migraine attacks3 months

Change since baseline in migraine attacks per 28 days; assessed via diary

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

GAIA

🇩🇪

Hamburg, Germany

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