Acupuncture has been a means of treating headaches and migraine since 2002 and is now a World Health Organisation-recognized prophylactic treatment for migraine. Brain activation/de-activation via acupuncture modifies the haemodynamic responses in the brain which may impact the sensorial, cognitive and affective dimensions of pain. Randomized studies on patients suffering from aura-free migraine have shown that the painkilling effect of regular acupuncture sessions on the cerebral substratum, compared with simulated sham-type acupuncture, can reduce the frequency of bouts of migraine, number of days with headaches and also their intensity. Modifications to the white matter (WM) and grey matter (GM) occur after repeated sessions of acupuncture treatment for pain and these are observable via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). It is a very sensitive technique and often used to detect functional and structural brain changes.
Since 2002, acupuncture has been employed as a method for treating headaches and migraine. It is recognized by the World Health Organisation (WHO), and is now part of the prophylactic treatments for migraine. Brain activations/de-activation via acupuncture lead to a modification of haemodynamic responses in the brain which may impact the sensorial, cognitive and affective dimensions of pain. Randomized studies on patients who suffer from migraine without aura have shown that the painkilling effect of repeated acupuncture sessions on the cerebral substratum, compared with simulated sham-type acupuncture, make it possible to reduce the frequency of bouts of migraine, the number of days of headaches, and the intensity of the bouts. Following repeated sessions of acupuncture treatment for pain, modifications occur in the white matter (WM) and in the grey matter (GM) and these may be observed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) which is a highly sensitive technique and very often used to detect functional brain changes and/or subtle abnormalities.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
40
The patient will be treated for migraine with real acupuncture.
Sham acupuncture is used as a control in scientific studies to test the efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of various disorders, in this case, migraine. In this study, the subjects will not know whether they are getting true acupuncture or not. In the placebo group, the acupuncture needles will not actually be inserted into the skin. Placebo needles consisting of a sliding tube and a retractible needle are applied to the acupunture reference point (marked by a pastille stuck on the skin). The patient should not be able to feel the difference between real acupuncture and sham acupuncture.
Marc FREARD
Nîmes, France
RECRUITINGRegional homogeneity map in Interventional group patients BEFORE first real acupuncture session.
Regional homogeneity in patients treated via real acupuncture (Interventional group) is computed with functional magnetic resonance imaging
Time frame: At the inclusion visit (Vinc) on Day 0 - Start of therapy
Regional homogeneity map in Interventional group patients AFTER first real acupuncture session.
Regional homogeneity in patients treated via real acupuncture (Interventional group) is computed with functional magnetic resonance imaging
Time frame: At the inclusion visit (Vinc) on Day 0 - Start of therapy
Regional homogeneity map in Placebo group patients BEFORE first real acupuncture session.
Regional homogeneity in patients treated via simulated, sham-type acupuncture (Placebo group) is computed with functional magnetic resonance imaging
Time frame: At the inclusion visit (Vinc) on Day 0 - Start of therapy
Regional homogeneity map in Placebo group patients AFTER first real acupuncture session.
Regional homogeneity in patients treated via simulated, sham-type acupuncture (Placebo group) is computed with functional magnetic resonance imaging
Time frame: At the inclusion visit (Vinc) on Day 0 - Start of therapy
Regional homogeneity map in Interventional group patients BEFORE last real acupuncure session
Regional homogeneity in patients treated via acupuncture (Interventional group) is is computed with functional magnetic resonance imaging
Time frame: Sixty days after inclusion in the trial (Day 60) - end of therapy
Regional homogeneity map in Interventional group patients AFTER last real acupuncure session
Regional homogeneity in patients treated via acupuncture (Interventional group) is computed with functional magnetic resonance imaging
Time frame: Sixty days after inclusion in the trial (Day 60) - end of therapy
Regional homogeneity map of Placebo group patients BEFORE last placebo acupuncture session
Regional homogeneity in patients treated via simulated, sham-type acupuncture (Placebo group) is computed with functional magnetic resonance imaging
Time frame: Sixty days after inclusion in the trial (Day 60) - end of therapy
Regional homogeneity map of Placebo group patients AFTER last placebo acupuncture session
Regional homogeneity in patients treated via simulated, sham-type acupuncture (Placebo group) is computed with functional magnetic resonance imaging
Time frame: Sixty days after inclusion in the trial (Day 60) - end of therapy
Mean diffusivity of White Matter of Interventional group patients BEFORE first real acupuncture session
The mean diffusivity of White Matter of Interventional group patients is computed with diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging
Time frame: At the inclusion visit (Vinc) on Day 0 - start of therapy
Mean diffusivity of White Matter of Interventional group patients AFTER first real acupuncture session
The mean diffusivity of White Matter of Interventional group patients is computed with diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging
Time frame: At the inclusion visit (Vinc) on Day 0 - start of therapy
Mean diffusivity of White Matter of Placebo group patients BEFORE first placebo acupuncture session
The mean diffusivity of White Matter of Placebo group patients is computed with diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging
Time frame: At the inclusion visit (Vinc) on Day 0 - start of therapy
Mean diffusivity of White Matter of Placebo group patients AFTER first placebo acupuncture session
The mean diffusivity of White Matter of Placebo group patients is computed with diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging
Time frame: At the inclusion visit (Vinc) on Day 0 - start of therapy
Mean diffusivity of White Matter of Interventional group patients BEFORE last real acupuncture session
The mean diffusivity of White Matter in patients treated with real acupuncture (Interventional group) is computed with diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging
Time frame: 60 days after the initial inclusion visit (Day 60) - end of therapy
Mean diffusivity of White Matter of Interventional group patients AFTER last real acupuncture session
The mean diffusivity of White Matter in patients treated with real acupuncture (Interventional group) is computed with diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging
Time frame: 60 days after the initial inclusion visit (Day 60) - end of therapy
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Mean diffusivity of White Matter of Placebo group patients BEFORE last placebo acupuncture session
The mean diffusivity of White Matter in patients treated with simulated, sham-type acupuncture (Placebo group) is computed with diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging
Time frame: 60 days after the initial inclusion visit (Day 60) - end of therapy
Mean diffusivity of White Matter of Placebo group patients AFTER last placebo acupuncture session
The mean diffusivity of White Matter in patients treated with simulated, sham-type acupuncture (Placebo group) is computed with diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging
Time frame: 60 days after the initial inclusion visit (Day 60) - end of therapy
Radial diffusivity of the White Matter in Interventional group patients BEFORE first real acupuncture session
Radial diffusivity of the White Matter of Interventional group patients is computed with diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging
Time frame: At the inclusion visit (Vinc) on Day 0 - start of therapy
Radial diffusivity of the White Matter in Interventional group patients AFTER first real acupuncture session
Radial diffusivity of the White Matter in the Interventional group patients is computed with diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging
Time frame: At the inclusion visit (Vinc) on Day 0 - start of therapy
Radial diffusivity of the White Matter in Placebo group patients BEFORE first placebo acupuncture session
Radial diffusivity of the White Matter in patients treated with simulated, sham-type acupuncture (Placebo group) is computed with diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging
Time frame: At the inclusion visit (Vinc) on Day 0 - start of therapy
Radial diffusivity of the White Matter in Placebo group patients AFTER first placebo acupuncture session
Radial diffusivity of the White Matter in patients treated with simulated, sham-type acupuncture (Placebo group) is computed with diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging
Time frame: At the inclusion visit (Vinc) on Day 0 - start of therapy
Radial diffusivity of the White Matter in Interventional group patients BEFORE last real acupuncture session
Radial diffusivity of the White Matter in patients treated with real acupuncture (Interventional group) is computed with diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging
Time frame: 60 days after the initial inclusion visit (Day 60) - end of therapy
Radial diffusivity of the White Matter in Placebo group patients AFTER last real acupuncture session
Radial diffusivity of the White Matter in patients treated with real acupuncture (Interventional group) is computed with diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging
Time frame: 60 days after the initial inclusion visit (Day 60) - end of therapy
Radial diffusivity of the White Matter in Interventional group patients BEFORE last placebo acupuncture session
Radial diffusivity of the White Matter in patients treated with simulated, sham-type acupuncture (Placebo group) is computed with diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging
Time frame: 60 days after the initial inclusion visit (Day 60) - end of therapy
Radial diffusivity of the White Matter in Placebo group patients AFTER last placebo acupuncture session
Radial diffusivity of the White Matter in patients treated with simulated, sham-type acupuncture (Placebo group) is computed with diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging
Time frame: 60 days after the initial inclusion visit (Day 60) - end of therapy
Fractional anisotropy of the White Matter in Interventional group patients BEFORE first real acupuncture session
Fractional anisotropy of patients treated with real acupuncture (Interventional group) is computed with diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging
Time frame: At the inclusion visit (Vinc) on Day 0 - start of therapy
Fractional anisotropy of the White Matter in Interventional group patients AFTER first real acupuncture session
Fractional anisotropy of patients treated with real acupuncture (Interventional group) is computed with diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging
Time frame: At the inclusion visit (Vinc) on Day 0 - start of therapy
Fractional anisotropy of the White Matter in Placebo group patients BEFORE first placebo acupuncture session
Fractional anisotropy in patients treated with simulated, sham-type acupuncture (Placebo group) is computed with diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging
Time frame: At the inclusion visit (Vinc) on Day 0 - start of therapy
Fractional anisotropy of the White Matter in Placebo group patients AFTER first placebo acupuncture session
Fractional anisotropy in patients treated with simulated, sham-type acupuncture (Placebo group) is computed with diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging
Time frame: At the inclusion visit (Vinc) on Day 0 - start of therapy
Fractional anisotropy of the White Matter in Interventional group patients BEFORE last real acupuncture session
Fractional anisotropy in patients treated with real acupuncture (Interventional group) is computed with diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging
Time frame: 60 days after the initial inclusion visit (Day 60) - end of therapy
Fractional anisotropy of the White Matter in Interventional group patients AFTER last real acupuncture session
Fractional anisotropy in patients treated with real acupuncture (Interventional group) is computed with diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging
Time frame: 60 days after the initial inclusion visit (Day 60) - end of therapy
Fractional anisotropy of the White Matter in Placebo group patients BEFORE last placebo acupuncture session
Fractional anisotropy in patients treated with simulated, sham-type acupuncture (Placebo group) is computed with diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging
Time frame: 60 days after the initial inclusion visit (Day 60) - end of therapy
Fractional anisotropy of the White Matter in Placebo group patients AFTER first placebo acupuncture session
Fractional anisotropy in patients treated with simulated, sham-type acupuncture (Placebo group) is computed with diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging
Time frame: 60 days after the initial inclusion visit (Day 60) - end of therapy
Change in number of days with migraine per month - Interventional group BEFORE treatment
The number of days with migraine per month will be measured according to the days noted on a calendar
Time frame: At the inclusion visit (Vinc) on Day 0
Change in number of days with migraine per month - Interventional group AFTER treatment
The number of days with migraine per month will be measured according to the days noted on a calendar
Time frame: At the end of the study (on Day 90)
Change in number of days with migraine per month - Placebo group BEFORE treatment
The number of days with migraine per month will be measured according to the days noted on a calendar
Time frame: At the inclusion visit (Vinc) on Day 0
Change in number of days with migraine per month - Placebo group AFTER treatment
The number of days with migraine per month will be measured according to the days noted on a calendar
Time frame: At the end of the study (on Day 90)
Pain BEFORE treatment in the Interventional group
The change in pain will be measured according to the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) described by Huskisson. The VAS is a simple numerical scale for measuring the intensity of pain. It is represented in the form of a 100 mm continuous line ranging from "Absence of pain" (0 mm) to "Maximum Imaginable Pain" (100 mm). The patient slides the cursor to give the intensity of pain that he/she feels. The amount of pain felt will be reported on the migraine calendar.
Time frame: At the inclusion visit (Vinc) on Day 0
Pain AFTER treatment in the Interventional group
The change in pain will be measured according to the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) described by Huskisson. The VAS is a simple numerical scale for measuring the intensity of pain. It is represented in the form of a 100 mm continuous line ranging from "Absence of pain" (0 mm) to "Maximum Imaginable Pain" (100 mm). The patient slides the cursor to give the intensity of pain that he/she feels. The amount of pain felt will be reported on the migraine calendar.
Time frame: At the end of the study (on Day 90)
Pain BEFORE treatment in the Placebo group
The change in pain will be measured according to the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) described by Huskisson. The VAS is a simple numerical scale for measuring the intensity of pain. It is represented in the form of a 100 mm continuous line ranging from "Absence of pain" (0 mm) to "Maximum Imaginable Pain" (100 mm). The patient slides the cursor to give the intensity of pain that he/she feels. The amount of pain felt will be reported on the migraine calendar.
Time frame: At the inclusion visit (Vinc) on Day 0
Pain AFTER treatment in the Placebo group
The change in pain will be measured according to the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) described by Huskisson. The VAS is a simple numerical scale for measuring the intensity of pain. It is represented in the form of a 100 mm continuous line ranging from "Absence of pain" (0 mm) to "Maximum Imaginable Pain" (100 mm). The patient slides the cursor to give the intensity of pain that he/she feels. The amount of pain felt will be reported on the migraine calendar.
Time frame: At the end of the study (on Day 90)
Impact of migraine on the Interventional group patients' Quality of Life (QOL) BEFORE treatment
The evolution of the impact of migraine on the patient's Quality of Life (QOL) before and after treatment will be measured on a score of 36 to 78 points by means of the Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6). This is a tool used to measure the impact of headaches on the patient's ability to function at work, at school, at home and in social situations.
Time frame: At the inclusion visit (Vinc) on Day 0
Impact of migraine on the Interventional group patients' Quality of Life (QOL) AFTER treatment
The evolution of the impact of migraine on the patient's Quality of Life (QOL) before and after treatment will be measured on a score of 36 to 78 points by means of the Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6). This is a tool used to measure the impact of headaches on the patient's ability to function at work, at school, at home and in social situations.
Time frame: At the end of the study on Day 90
Impact of migraine on the Placebo group patients' Quality of Life (QOL) BEFORE treatment.
The evolution of the impact of migraine on the patient's Quality of Life (QOL) before and after treatment will be measured on a score of 36 to 78 points by means of the Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6). This is a tool used to measure the impact of headaches on the patient's ability to function at work, at school, at home and in social situations.
Time frame: At the inclusion visit (Vinc) on Day 0
Impact of migraine on the Placebo group patients' Quality of Life (QOL) AFTER treatment.
The evolution of the impact of migraine on the patient's Quality of Life (QOL) before and after treatment will be measured on a score of 36 to 78 points by means of the Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6). This is a tool used to measure the impact of headaches on the patient's ability to function at work, at school, at home and in social situations.
Time frame: At the end of the study on Day 90