New Migraine Research

Written By David Clarke

by David Clarke MD

A new study of Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy (EAET) for people with migraine has found a large benefit. The lead author is Dan Kaufmann PhD from the University of Utah who spoke at the ATNS Conference.

EAET had a significant, large effect on monthly migraine days (MMD), which reduced by 7.0 days (43%) from baseline compared to a 1.7 day reduction (11%) among Wait List Controls (p=.006). Pooled data from all 24 participants who received EAET (15 in the EAET arm and 9 WLCs), found that EAET had a large effect size on MMD (P<.001, d=−0.86). See the bar graph below.

EAET also had a significant benefit compared to the control group for quality of life, anxiety, depression, allodynia, positive affect (increased), and negative affect (decreased).

Kaufmann D, Sturgeon JA,.... & Lumley, M.A. (2026). Emotional awareness and expression therapy for migraine: a preliminary randomized controlled trial. Pain Medicine, 2026, 1–4 https://doi.org/10.1093/pm/pnag034


David Clarke

President of the Association for the Treatment of Neuroplastic Symptoms since 2011.

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