What the trial was testing
The trial enrolled 112 patients with migraine. The study was sponsored by NYU Langone Health and tracked outcomes across the full group of patients who matched the trial's eligibility profile.
It was a large trial designed to confirm whether the treatment works well enough for wider use. Trials at this stage are designed to produce evidence regulators and physicians can act on — not just observations to follow up later.
What the results showed
82% of people using the relaxation app saw meaningful improvements in their migraine-related disability.
JAMA network open · 2025 · NCT04281030
These findings — that people using the relaxation app had meaningful reductions in how much migraine affected their daily activities — were published in the JAMA network open and represent the headline result of the study.
Researchers tracked outcomes across 112 patients enrolled in the trial. The result was consistent enough across the group that the team felt confident reporting it.
What this means for patients
For patients with migraine, this result changes the calculus on what to ask their care team about. Whether it changes day-to-day care depends on factors like disease subtype, prior treatments, and where the patient is in their care journey.
What you can do now
This was a large-scale study showing that a guided relaxation technique can help reduce how much migraine affects your daily life. Progressive muscle relaxation apps are widely available and can be used alongside your current migraine treatment. Ask your doctor whether adding relaxation techniques might help you manage your migraines.
Eligibility for the treatments mentioned above depends on specific test results and clinical history. Bring this summary, the trial name, and your most recent labs or pathology report to your next visit.
Open migraine trials
A Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Elismetrep (K-304) in the Acute Treatment of Migraine
This is a double-blind, randomized, multicenter, outpatient evaluation of the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of elismetrep, as compared with placebo, in the acute treatment of migraine.
High-field MR Imaging in Migraine, Visual Snow and Epilepsy
In this project, the aim is to recruit patients with drug resistant epilepsy and those suffering from migraine. Interestingly, patients suffering from epilepsy are also more often reporting to suffer from migraine. The pathobiology is understudied, but it is believed that both etiologies results from brain networks changes. A clinical certified 7T Terra Siemens scanner will be employed to assess in all participants (including healthy controls) how the microstructure differs in disease specific areas. Patients will further be clinically assessed as well as undergo questionnaires. Migraine is also a common comorbidity to visual snow syndrom and has been shown to impact similar brain regions. However, the pathophysiology is still understudied and a better understanding of the two diseases is needed.