Digital Migraine Program Enters German Trial

Migraine affects 10% of the population and often significantly impairs quality of life. Despite effective treatment options, many patients do not receive acute treatment or migraine prevention in accordance with clinical guidelines. MIGRA-MD aims to change that — a structured, specialist-led migraine care program that is multimodal and digital.“The new treatment aims to reduce the frequency and severity of headaches and improve quality of life,” reported Ruth Ruscheweyh, neurologist at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU), Munich, Germany, at a press conference held by the German Pain Society and the German Migraine and Headache Society (DMKG).It is expected that the approach will also have a positive impact on work capacity, mental well-being, and self-efficacy, Ruscheweyh said. She leads the DMKG’s MIGRA-MD study.MIGRA-MD Boosts Patient Self-ManagementThe new treatment modality incorporates elements from digital tools, training, and networking. Participating physicians were trained by the DMKG in guideline-based migraine treatment. Patients taking part in the study document their headaches in the DMKG app and complete a headache questionnaire (see info box).The data are consolidated in the physician portal and serve as a starting point for the medical history and progress assessment. “This is very useful because you don’t have to ask for all the information individually; instead, you have an overview in advance,” Ruscheweyh explained.With the digital learning platform “MIGRA-MD Wissen,” the project aims to improve patients’ health literacy. It offers expert-led videos on headaches and treatment options, developed by a team of physicians, psychologists, and physical therapists for people with migraine. The content is intended to strengthen self-efficacy and encourage the use of nonpharmacologic treatments.If Successful, MIGRA-MD Could Become Standard CareThe project is funded by the Innovation Fund of Germany’s Federal Joint Committee (G-BA, the country’s national body that determines which healthcare services are covered by statutory insurance) and was jointly developed by LMU and DMKG. MIGRA-MD is currently being tested in a multicenter study at 50 practices and centers in Germany, with 1000 patients enrolled. Recruitment has been underway since March 2026, and just under 500 patients have been enrolled so far. The project will run until May 2029; Ruscheweyh expects the first results in 2028.The primary endpoints of the study are a reduction in the number of headache days per month and a reduction in disability caused by migraine, as measured by the Migraine Disability Assessment score. If the scientific analysis shows that headache days and the impact on patients’ daily lives are sustainably reduced, the program will be incorporated into standard care.Migraine-Specific Therapy ProgramEligibility Requirements:Minimum age of 18 yearsStatutory health insuranceMigraine headaches on 4-25 d/moAt most two migraine-preventive medications that were tried unsuccessfullyGood German skillsSmartphoneParticipation is voluntary and free of chargeAdvantages:Three appointments with specialists offering state-of-the-art drug and nondrug treatmentsPreparation for doctor’s appointments via a headache questionnaire and the DMKG app, which also supports effective careAccess to videos and webinars with experts, followed by Q&A sessionsBecoming active in everyday lifeTeaching strategies that do not involve medicationPatients can register directly on the website https://mitmachen.migra-md.de/.This story was translated from Medscape’s German edition.