Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for the Treatment of Vestibular Migraine: A Prospective Pilot Study.
Cureus – February 01, 2025
Source: PubMed
Summary
A mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program significantly improved dizziness and quality of life for 20 women with vestibular migraine, aged 46.7 on average. After an eight-week course, participants reported notable reductions in dizziness handicap (Dizziness Handicap Index), cognitive failures, anxiety, and depression. Specifically, daily vertigo severity scores decreased during treatment, indicating effective stress reduction through meditation. This pilot study highlights the potential of MBSR to alleviate symptoms associated with dizziness and improve overall well-being in individuals suffering from vestibular migraine.
Abstract
Purpose The purpose of this study was to describe the implementation and efficacy of a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program for treating dizziness symptoms in subjects with vestibular migraine (VM). Materials and methods A non-controlled prospective cohort study of 20 adult English-speaking patients with a diagnosis of VM was undertaken at a single tertiary referral center. A virtual platform was used to administer an eight-week-long MBSR course with required reading materials and weekly 2.5-hour guided meditation and instructional sessions. Pre- and post-MBSR scores on the Dizziness Handicap Index (DHI), Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), VM Patient Assessment Tool and Handicap Inventory (VM-PATHI), Patient Reported Outcome Measure Information System (PROMIS) Global Physical and Mental Health Forms, and daily vertigo severity scores were collected. Results Twenty participants (100.0% female; 70.0% (n=14) White; with an average age of 46.7 years (SD 16.3), completed the study. The DHI, CFQ, PHQ-9, GAD-7, VM-PATHI, and PROMIS scores all improved significantly after MBSR treatment compared to prior to treatment (all questionnaires, p<0.01 except for CFQ; p=0.03). Mean daily vertigo scores did not change significantly over time in the 24-day lead-in period (adjusted r2 = 0.03; p=0.54) but decreased significantly over the eight-week MBSR treatment period (adjusted r2 = 0.32; p<0.001). Conclusions In this non-controlled, prospective pilot study, a MBSR program was highly effective for decreasing dizziness burden and improving measures of quality of life in subjects with VM. Future randomized controlled trials are warranted and forthcoming.