A RANDOMIZED CASE–CONTROL PILOT STUDY ON THE NEUROCHEMICAL BASIS OF PAIN MODULATION IN PATIENTS WITH MIGRAINE, WHO PRACTICED INTEGRATED AMRITA MEDITATION TECHNIQUE

Abstract

Objective: The objective of the study was to determine the changes in duration and intensity of headache and associated changes in the plasma levels of neurochemicals, serotonin, glutamate, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), and nitric oxide (NO) in patients with migraine after 6 months of regular practice of integrated Amrita meditation (IAM). Methods: Sixteen patients aged 18–50 with migraine were randomly assigned to 2 groups, one with standard medical care and IAM, and the other only standard medical care. Data were collected before IAM, after 3 and 6 months of IAM practice. Results: After 6 months, a significant decrease in the duration of headache from 2.4±0.54 to 1.4±0.54 (p=0.034) hours and intensity of pain from 3.6±0.54 to 2.6±0.89, (p=0.035) was seen in patients who practiced IAM. Plasma levels of serotonin dropped from 47.29±26.85 to 31.88±8.07 ng/ml, (p=0.050), glutamate reduced from 31.47±8.23 to 21.77±13.62 μg/ml, (p=0.010) and NO levels increased from 423.17±97.90 to 540±88.30 μmol/L, and (p=0.023) in the IAM group in comparison with control after 6 months. A correlating trend was seen within the IAM group in serotonin (47.29±26.85 to 53.85±29.73 ng/ml), glutamate (38.47±8.2 to 29.68±12.57 μg/ml), VIP (28.01±13.64 to 22.23±7.79 pg/ml), and NO (642.26±167.42 to 423.18±97.96 μmol/L). Discussion: The results of our study have been discussed with other migraine and meditation-related studies. Conclusion: Regular practice of IAM reduces the intensity and duration of headache in migraine patients and is associated with alterations in the neurotransmitter levels.