Coping Skills for Migraine: A 6-Month Program

Migraine is a significant public health issue characterized by frequently unilateral, recurrent, throbbing headaches. International Headache Disorders define migraine as a headache lasting 4-72 hours, accompanied by nausea, vomiting, phonophobia, or photophobia. Recurrent attacks can make it difficult to perform routine daily activities and movements. The World Health Organization lists migraine as one of the most disabling diseases. Approaches to treating migraine include pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions. Non-pharmacological approaches aim to increase an individual's coping skills using exercise, stress management, and cognitive-behavioral therapy, which involve physical, mental, and cognitive interventions. While these approaches are practical individually, due to the impact of migraine on an individual's entire life, combined and client-centered approaches are needed. Coping skills training (CST) has been shown to improve the physical and mental health and well-being of individuals with chronic headaches, significantly reducing pain intensity, migraine attacks, and medication use. It also aims to help individuals adapt to life more productively. Despite its positive effects, limited studies examine the impact of CST on individuals' coping skills and quality of life. A person-centered approach that combines various intervention components can enhance personal control and effectiveness in managing headaches. Due to the unpredictable timing of severe migraine attacks and the variable frequency of symptoms, client-centered coping skills training is recommended for managing migraines. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of client-centered coping skills training on pain, quality of life, disability level, and coping skills in individuals with migraine over a 6-month follow-up period.