Understanding how mind and body techniques help reduce pain in young people with migraines

Dissecting Neural Mechanisms Supporting Mind and Body Approaches to Pain Reduction in Youth with Migraine

NIH-funded research Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr · NIH-10596090

This study is looking at how different relaxation and thinking techniques can help kids and teens aged 10 to 17 feel less pain from migraines, and it will use brain scans to see how these methods work over an 8-week program.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionCincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Cincinnati, United States)
Project IDNIH-10596090 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates how cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which includes mind and body techniques like deep breathing and biofeedback, can help reduce migraine pain in youth aged 10 to 17. The study will compare two types of training: relaxation techniques and cognitive reappraisal training, to see how they affect brain activity related to pain. Participants will undergo functional MRI scans and sensory testing before and after an 8-week intervention to understand the brain mechanisms involved in pain reduction. The goal is to identify which techniques are most effective in alleviating migraine symptoms.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are youth aged 10 to 17 who experience migraines.

Not a fit: Patients outside the age range of 10 to 17 or those not experiencing migraines may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective non-drug treatments for managing migraines in young people.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown that cognitive behavioral therapy can effectively reduce headache days in pediatric patients, indicating potential success for this approach.

Where this research is happening

Cincinnati, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.