Benefits of an on-line migraine education video for patients with co-occurring migraine and depression

Abstract

ObjectiveTo evaluate effects of an online, hour-long migraine education and management education program on health outcomes in people with migraine experiencing significant depressive symptoms. MethodsEligible individuals in the community with comorbid migraine and depressive symptoms (n = 95) participated in the 12-week study. Participants completed self-report questionnaires examining general functioning, headache-specific disability, migraine frequency, pain, and depressive symptoms, before, and at 2, 6, and 12 weeks following the migraine education and management program. Primary analyses evaluated change over time in each outcome, using individual linear growth curve models. ResultsAfter watching the migraine education and management video, there were significant effects of time (across all time points) for average pain level in the past 30 days (b = −0.20, p < .001), most intense pain level in the past 30 days (b = −0.33, p < .001) depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-8; b = −0.28, p = .002), and headache-specific disability (Headache Disability Inventory; b = −1.32, p < .001), such that each of these outcomes improved linearly over time. ConclusionsA brief, online educational video is practical and effective and can lead to enhanced migraine knowledge and self-management skills and lessen the burden of migraine and concurrent depressive symptoms.