Table 1.
Characteristics of included studies
| Sources | Design | Pain | Yate Quality Score (range 0–35) | Mean age (SD), years | Male (%) | Sample size | Attrition rate (%) | Intervention group | Control group | Outcome measures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omidi 2014, Iran | RCT | TTH | 20/35 (57%) | I: 34.5 (2.4) C: 32 (3.2) | 20 | 60 | I: 9.1 C: 9.1 | MBSR, 8 weekly sessions, each 2 h | Medication and clinical management | Headache severity Mindfulness awareness |
| Omidi 2015, Iran | RCT | TTH | 21/35 (60%) | I: 34.5 (2.4) C: 32 (3.2) | 20 | 60 | I: 9.1 C: 9.1 | MBSR, 8 weekly sessions, each 2 h | Medication and clinical management | Psychological symptom Perceived stress |
| Wachholtz 2008, United States | RCT | Migraine and TTH | 22/35 (62%) | 19.1 (1.1) | 9.6 | 83 | I: 10 C: 9.1 | Spiritual or internal secular or external secular meditation, 20 min/day for 30 days | Relaxation | Headache frequency and severity Pain tolerance Affect, anxiety, depression Quality of life Self-efficacy Spirituality |
| Rosdahl 2003, United States | RCT | TTH | 26/35 (74%) | 36.4 (13) | 21.8 | 64 | Not mention | Mindfulness meditation, 8 weekly sessions, each 2 h and 10–15 min a day at home | Education class | Perceived stress Time pressure Headache intensity and duration Spirituality sIgA in saliva |
| Day 2014, United States | RCT | Migraine (86.1%), TTH (11.1%), new daily persistent headache (2.8%) | 23/35 (65%) | 41.7 (12.0) | 11.1 | 24 | I: 52.6 C: 11.7 | MBCT, 8 weekly sessions, 2 h each and homework 45 min, 6 days per week | DT | Headache frequency, duration and intensity Pain severity and pain interference Pain catastrophizing Mindfulness Pain acceptance Self-efficacy Self-efficacy |
| Bakhshani 2015, Iran | RCT | Primary migraine, TTH | 16/35 (45%) | I: 30.6 (9.1) C: 31.5 (9.5) | 32.5 | 37 | I: 15 C: 0 | MBSR, 8 weekly sessions, each 1.5–2 h | Usual pharmacotherapy | Pain intensity, frequency, and duration A short-form 36 questionnaire |
| Wells 2014, United States | RCT | Migraine | 25/35 (71%) | I: 45.9 (17) C: 45.2 (12) | 11 | 19 | I: 0 C: 0 | MBSR, 8 weekly sessions, each 2 h plus 1 mindfulness retreat day (6 h) and daily practice for 45 min, at least 5 additional days per week | Wait-list | Headache frequency, duration and intensity Headache-related disability Migraine disability assessment Quality of life Depression, anxiety Perceived stress Mindfulness Self-efficacy |
| Cathcart 2014, Australia | RCT | Chronic TTH | 22/35 (62%) | I: 45.7 (13.1) C: 45.2 (14.1) | I: 43 C: 31.5 | 42 | I: 20.6 C: 34.4 | Mindfulness based therapy, 6 sessions, 3 weeks, | Wait-list | Headache frequency, duration, and intensity Depression, anxiety, stress |
| twice a week, each 2 h and homework 30 min per day | ||||||||||
| Cathcart 2013 (a, b), Australia | RCT | Chronic TTH | 16/35 (45%) | 45.5 (13.8) | 37 | 43 | Not mention | MBSR, six 1-h group class, twice per week, for 3 weeks, 30 min daily home practice | Wait-list | (a) Muscle tenderness Pressure pain detection threshold Cold pressor test Conditioned pain modulation (b) Inflammatory cytokines |
| Kiran 2014, India | CCT | Chronic TTH | 17/35 (48.5%) | 32.06 (9.43) | 22 | 50 | I: 14.2 C: 42.8 | Rajyoga meditation, 45 min per lesson, 8 lessons, twice a week, for 4 weeks | Wait-list | Headache frequency, duration, and intensity |
RCT: Randomized controlled trial; CCT: Controlled clinical trial; TTH: Tension-type headache; MBSR: Mindfulness-based stress reduction; MBCT: Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy; DT: Delayed treatment.