G-3645

Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Group Therapy on Alexithymia and Migraine Symptoms in Adolescents with Migraine in Isfahan

 Mohadeseh Sadat Mirlohi Falavarjani ¹ ℗, Zohreh Alaedini ² ©, Gholamreza Talebi ³   

 
Abstract

Introduction: Migraine is a prevalent neurological disorder characterized by recurrent severe headache attacks accompanied by a range of neurological symptoms. This condition significantly impairs the quality of life and daily functioning of affected individuals, particularly adolescents who are at a critical stage of cognitive and emotional development. One important psychological factor associated with migraine is alexithymia, a condition marked by difficulties in identifying, processing, and expressing emotions. Research indicates that adolescents with migraine often experience heightened emotional dysregulation, which can exacerbate physical symptoms and increase the frequency and severity of migraine attacks. Considering the influential role of psychological factors in the onset and intensity of migraine, psychological interventions such as Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction have emerged as novel and effective approaches to reduce stress and improve emotional regulation. The present study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of MBSR therapy on alexithymia and migraine symptoms in adolescents diagnosed with migraine. Methods and Materials: This study is a quasi-experimental design with a pretest-posttest-follow-up structure. The statistical population included of adolescent girls diagnosed with migraine who had referred to neurology clinics and specialized medical centers in Isfahan in 2024. A total of 36 participants were selected through convenience sampling and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The Toronto Alexithymia Scale and the Ahvaz Migraine Questionnaire, were used at three stages: pretest, posttest, and follow-up. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 28, and Multivariate Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA) and the Bonferroni post hoc test was applied to examine the results. Results: The findings indicated that the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction had a significant effect on reducing alexithymia and migraine symptoms, and these effects persisted at the follow-up stage (p0.001). Conclusion and Discussion: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction can effectively reduce alexithymia and migraine symptoms in adolescents with migraine. Therefore, it is recommended as a useful and effective approach to be implemented in healthcare centers.

Keywords: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Alexithymia, Migraine Symptoms