Migraine researchers offer Buddhist therapy sessions

THE Buddhist practice of mindfulness may help to relieve chronic or recurrent headache, according to Galway-based scientists seeking recruits to test the theory.

The NUIG Galway Centre for Pain Research is offering six free online sessions of mindfulness training for people who experience frequent headache pain or migraine.

The meditation technique, recognised as one of seven elements of enlightenment in the Buddhist tradition, focuses on awareness of reality in the present moment.

Psychologists have already recognised its ability to treat a number of mental and physical conditions, and NUIG’s Centre for Pain Research believes it may assist in chronic headache pain management.

Up to 15 per cent of the Irish population is estimated to suffer from migraine alone, the centre points out, and those suffering chronic or recurrent headache are part of an “under-researched” grouping.

The online sessions in the research project, led by Angeline Traynor of NUIG, have been tailored specifically for headache pain by clinical psychology lecturer Dr Jonathan Egan.

They will focus on active self-management, instruction in a range of relaxation techniques, coping skills and cognitive behavioural therapy techniques to help identify negative thinking and coping patterns.

The researchers say they are specifically interested in hearing from people who have chronic daily headache, defined as chronic head pain, which occurs on 15 or more days per month over a period of three to four months.

This would include tension-type headache, migraine and medication-overuse headache.

“Many people find that the combination of cognitive and relaxation therapies which are offered in this headache management programme enable them to take back control of their lives and engage more in daily activities with the knowledge they have the tools necessary to better manage their pain,” Dr Egan said.

The programme is designed to be accessible to all people who have a computer. Patients can continue with their normal treatments while also taking part in the study, the team says.

Potential volunteers can contact Angeline Traynor by emailing a.traynor2@nuigalway.ie