New options for headache smartphone therapy for migraine

New migraine therapy project: smartphone-assisted treatment

Worldwide, around 15 to 25 percent of all women and around six to eight percent of men suffer from migraine. Affected persons can be put out of action by the illness. Berlin is now launching a project to improve the treatment of migraineurs.

Every tenth German affected

According to experts, almost every tenth German suffers from migraine. Typical are throbbing, hammering and one-sided headache. Often, other complaints such as nausea and vomiting, dizziness and loss of appetite are added. In addition, many sufferers are noisy and sensitive to light. The complaints are often treated with medication. But sometimes natural methods can help. In Berlin, a project is now being launched to improve the treatment of migraine sufferers.

Migraine often leads to severe impairment of quality of life and also the ability to work. Berlin is now launching a project on smartphone-based migraine therapy. The aim is to offer patients with frequent migraine attacks an effective and location-independent treatment. (Image: SENTELLO / fotolia.com)

Offer patients an effective and location-independent treatment

The Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin launches a project for smartphone-assisted migraine therapy (SMARTGEM) together with its partners.

As stated in a communication, the goal is to offer patients with frequent migraine attacks an effective and location-independent treatment.

According to the information, the app is a combination of documentation, therapy module and self-help training. In addition, telemedical counseling and medically moderated forums and expert chats are offered.

The project under consortium management of the Charité will be realized in cooperation with the Department of Neurology of the University Medical Center Rostock, the Department of Neurology of the University Hospital Halle (Saale), the Institute for Public Health Charité, the app developer Newsenselab and the health insurances AOK Nordost, BKK VBU , IKK healthy plus and the BIG performed directly healthy.

Drug and non-drug treatments

According to the report, around 15 to 25 percent of women worldwide and around six to eight percent of men suffer from migraine.

The pain disorder often leads to a severe restriction of quality of life and also the ability to work.

There are several factors (triggers) that can trigger migraines. It is well known that sudden stress, hormonal changes, pronounced emotions or over-exertion and fatigue can lead to the symptoms. The weather can also influence.

To reduce the frequency of attacks, drug and non-drug therapies are currently used.

Those affected are often advised by experts not to rush to take medicines. Because taken permanently migraine painkillers lead to more seizures.

Many patients can get their complaints well with home remedies for migraine anyway.

It is recommended, among other things, to withdraw in pain attacks in a quiet, darkened room to shield themselves from external stimuli.

Gentle massages with peppermint oil on the temples and forehead can also help. Even a cooling cloth on the forehead can provide relief.

Improve patients' quality of life

According to the Charité Communication, access to medical headache experts and specialized pain therapists is limited for urban and especially rural patients.

"With SMARTGEM, we want to investigate the effectiveness of a location-independent, effective and also time-saving form of therapy for migraine," explains project manager Dr. med. Lars Neeb from the Department of Neurology at Campus Charité Mitte.

"For the patients we hope for a clear reduction of the attacks and the consumption of painkillers. Our goal is to improve patients' quality of life and prevent the onset of the disease, "said the expert.

Using the smartphone app M-sense, those affected can document their headaches, so that the therapy can be monitored and at the same time possible triggers for the migraine attacks can be identified.

The patients are supported by the integrated therapy module in the implementation of relaxation procedures and endurance sports and trained in individual behavioral approaches.

In addition, attending physicians can telemedically network with neurologists at university headache centers and seek advice to treat their patients.

For those affected themselves medically moderated forums and expert chats are offered to shorten the communication with the doctor.

Study with 1,200 patients

According to the data, the effectiveness of the new form of care is examined in a controlled study with 1,200 patients from Berlin, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Saxony-Anhalt.

The subjects have to suffer from migraine for more than five days a month and present themselves for the first time in the headache outpatient department of the Charité, the University of Rostock or the University Hospital Halle (Saale).

600 study participants will be provided with the new app, the comparison group receives the app for pure headache documentation without access to the advanced features.

"If successful, SMARTGEM has a model character for the nationwide care of migraine patients. This is especially true in structurally weak regions. " Neeb on the future of the project. (Ad)