# Efficacy of a Single-Session Telehealth-Based Behavioral Intervention for Chronic Migraines

> **NIH NIH K23** · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · 2024 · $189,000

## Abstract

Abstract
The overall goal of the current K23 project is to support Dr. John Sturgeon’s career development as a clinical
researcher in chronic migraine populations; specific training aims are to expand his training in the areas of clinical
trial design and development, medical and neurological bases of migraine headaches, and the analysis of time-
series, hierarchical, and clinical trials data. Migraines are among the most common medical conditions in the
United States and contribute to substantial work loss, economic burden, and psychosocial disability. Strikingly,
people with chronic migraines (CM) show even greater symptom severity, disability and poorer psychosocial
adjustment to their condition across studies, compared to those with episodic migraine. Effective treatment of
CM necessitates an interdisciplinary approach that emphasizes both medical and non-medical interventions to
address the complex pattern of disability and psychosocial impairment in this population. Behavioral
interventions such as cognitive-behavioral therapy and mindfulness meditation have demonstrated efficacy in
reducing migraine frequency, severity, and disability. However, access to these treatments is poor, particularly
among individuals not receiving care through specialty clinics. Further, many patients are unable to afford either
the financial or time costs associated with traditional behavioral interventions, which typically necessitate weekly
sessions for 2-3 months. Consequently, there is a compelling need to utilize develop brief, accessible, and
empirically validated interventions to improve the quality of CM management nationwide. Aim 1 of the study
proposes to conduct a randomized trial to test the efficacy of a novel, 2-hour single-session behavioral intervention
(“Empowered Relief”; ER) against a health education condition in individuals with CM. Aim 2 of the study proposes
to examine the dynamics of migraine activity, migraine-related disability, medication use, and indicators of
psychological adjustment using daily diary data, an assessment method that is both common in CM management
and desirable for comprehensive statistical modeling. The ER intervention has been validated in both mixed chronic
pain and chronic low back pain samples but, to date, has not been validated in migraine populations. If successful,
the current project will form the basis of a future randomized clinical trial comparing the potential non-inferiority of
the ER intervention against traditional, full-length behavioral interventions for CM.
The specific training experiences in this K23 project form an excellent complement to Dr. Sturgeon’s existing training
as a clinical pain psychologist and analytically-oriented chronic pain researcher. The current project provides a
comprehensive 5-year plan encompassing high-quality mentorship, training, and research to transition Dr. Sturgeon,
to the role of an independently funded researcher with the potential to make a significant impact in...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10745970
- **Project number:** 5K23NS125004-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR
- **Principal Investigator:** John Andrew Sturgeon
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $189,000
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-12-15 → 2026-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10745970

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10745970, Efficacy of a Single-Session Telehealth-Based Behavioral Intervention for Chronic Migraines (5K23NS125004-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10745970. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*