Write your message


XML Persian Abstract Print


Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Zahedan, Iran. , s.nourimoghadam@ped.usb.ac.ir
Abstract:   (31 Views)
Background: Emotion regulation and executive function deficits are known to be contributing factors in the onset and persistence of migraine. However, the precise mechanisms and effectiveness of novel interventions on these factors have not been fully explored. Therefore, evaluating the effect of transcranial stimulation on these variables is essential for the development of new treatments.
Aims: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of transcranial brain stimulation using direct electrical current on improving emotion regulation and executive functions in people with migraine.
Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted with a pre-test-post-test design and a control group. 30 migraine patients referring to specialized neurology clinics in Tehran in 1403 were selected using a convenience sampling method and randomly assigned to two experimental groups (n=15) and a control group (n=15). The research instruments included the Emotion Regulation Difficulty Questionnaire (Gertz and Romer, 2004) and the Executive Function Questionnaire (Barkley, 2012). The experimental group underwent 20-minute transcranial brain stimulation at an intensity of 2 mA for 15 sessions. The data were analyzed using repeated-measures analysis of variance and SPSS version 26 software.
Results: The results showed that transcranial brain stimulation has a significant effect on improving emotion regulation (P < 0.05) and executive functions (P < 0.05). Improvement was observed in all subscales of emotion regulation and executive functions. The effects of the intervention were also stable at the follow-up stage, and no significant difference was observed between the post-test and follow-up (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that transcranial brain stimulation can be used as an effective method to improve emotion regulation and executive functions in migraine patients. It is suggested that this method be used alongside other pharmacological and psychological treatments.
Article number: 13
     
Type of Study: Research | Subject: Special
Received: 2025/05/28 | Accepted: 2026/05/22 | Published: 2026/09/23

References
1. اسماعیلی، مهرنوش؛ هاشمی، سید اسماعیل؛ مهرابی‌زاده هنرمند، مهناز؛ حمید، نجمه؛ و احمدیان، مانا. (۱۴۰۲). کاوش تجربیات زیسته هیجانی بیماران مبتلا به اختلال میگرن. مجله علوم روانشناختی، ۲۲(۱۳۲)، ۷۵–۹۲. https://doi.org/10.52547/JPS.22.132.2467
2. باغستانی، علیرضا؛ جاودان، موسی؛ و محمدی، کوروش. (۱۴۰۳). اثربخشی طرحواره‌درمانی تلفیق‌شده با تحریک مستقیم مغزی از طریق جمجمه بر تنظیم هیجان و کارکردهای اجرایی در افراد دارای نشانه‌های افسردگی. فصلنامه روانشناسی تجربی و شناختی، ۱(۳)، ۵۸–۷۲.https://quarterlyecp.com/index.php/ecp/article/view/49
3. بشارت، محمدعلی. (۱۳۹۷). مقیاس دشواری تنظیم هیجان. اندیشه و رفتار در روانشناسی بالینی (اندیشه و رفتار)، ۱۲(۴۷)، ۸۹–۹۲. https://sanad.iau.ir/Journal/jtbcp/Article/1118414
4. بیات، محسن؛ بشرپور، سجاد؛ آقاجانی، سیف‌الله؛ و میکائیلی، نیلوفر. (۱۴۰۴). مقایسه اثربخشی طرحواره درمانی هیجانی و درمان مبتنی بر پذیرش و تعهد بر تحمل پریشانی و دشواری تنظیم هیجان در افراد مبتلا به اختلال افسردگی اساسی. مجله علوم روانشناختی، ۲۴(۱۵۰)، ۵۹–۸۱. https://psychologicalscience.ir/browse.php?a_id=2616&sid=1&slc_lang=fa&ftxt=0
5. بیات، محسن؛ نریمانی، محمد؛ و بشرپور، سجاد. (۱۳۹۸). بررسی تأثیر رفتار درمانی دیالکتیک با درمان مبتنی بر پذیرش و تعهد بر تنظیم هیجان و روابط بین فردی در افراد بزرگسال مبتلا به اختلال بیش‌فعالی و نقص توجه. مجله دانشکده پزشکی دانشگاه علوم پزشکی مشهد، ۶۲(۵.۱)، ۵۴–۷۴. https://doi.org/10.22038/mjms.2020.16349
6. زبردست، عذرا؛ و شفیعی‌تبار، مهدیه. (۱۳۹۸). عاطفه مثبت و منفی، راهبردهای تنظیم شناختی هیجان، و ناگویی هیجانی در دختران مبتلا به سردرد میگرنی. فصلنامه سلامت روان کودک، ۶(۲)، ۱۸۰–۱۹۳. http://dx.doi.org/10.29252/jcmh.6.2.16
7. سلطانی نظرلو، مسعود؛ و دلاورپور، محمدآقا. (۱۴۰۴). رابطه کارکردهای اجرایی و خودکارآمدی تحصیلی با اعتیاد به بازی‌های آنلاین. مجله علوم روانشناختی، ۲۴(۱۴۵)، ۶۳–۷۹. http://dx.doi.org/10.52547/JPS.24.145.63
8. عزیزی آرام، سمانه؛ بشرپور، سجاد؛ عطادخت، اکبر؛ و مولوی، پرویز. (۱۴۰۰). اثربخشی تحریک الکتریکی مستقیم فراجمجمه‌ای بر بهبود تنظیم هیجان و نگرش‌های ناکارآمد افراد مبتلا به اختلال شخصیت مرزی. رویش روان‌شناسی، ۱۰(۷)، ۱۱۵–۱۲۶. http://frooyesh.ir/article-1-2755-fa.html
9. فروغی، فریما؛ غلامزاده جفره، مریم؛ کاظمیان مقدم، کبری؛ و عابدی، پروین. (۱۴۰۳). اثربخشی درمان مبتنی بر پذیرش و تعهد بر تنظیم منفی هیجان، تحمل پریشانی و انعطاف‌پذیری روانی زنان مبتلا به میگرن. مجله دانشگاه علوم پزشکی سبزوار، ۳۱(۵)، ۷۳۳–۷۴۶. https://doi.org/10.30468/jsums.2024.7733.3036
10. میرحسینی، سیدشهروز؛ دهقانی آرانی، فاطمه؛ و صفاری فرد، راضیه. (۱۴۰۲). نقش واسطه‌گری کارکردهای اجرایی در رابطه بین آمادگی یادگیری الکترونیک و عملکرد تحصیلی در زمان شیوع ویروس کرونا. فصلنامه پژوهش‌های کاربردی روانشناختی، ۱۴(۳)، ۱۰۵–۱۱۹. https://doi.org/10.22059/japr.2023.352321.644473
11. نورانی جورجاده، سیده رقیه؛ مشهدی، علی؛ طبیبی، زهرا؛ و خیرخواه، فرزان. (۱۳۹۵). اثر آموزش کارکردهای اجرایی مبتنی بر زندگی روزمره، بر کارکردهای اجرایی کودکان مبتلا به اختلال نارسایی توجه - بیش فعالی. تازه‌های علوم شناختی، ۱۸(۱)، ۶۸–۷۸. http://icssjournal.ir/article-1-433-fa.html
12. Aziziaram, S., Basharpoor, S., Atadokht, A., & Molavi, P. (2021). The effectiveness of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) on improving Emotion Regulation and dysfunctional attitudes in people with Borderline Personality Disorder. Rooyesh, 10(7), 115–126. http://frooyesh.ir/article-1-2755-en.html.
13. Baghestani, A. R., Javdan, M., & Mohammadi, K. (2024). The Effectiveness of Schema Therapy Integrated with Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) on Emotion Regulation and Executive Functions in Individuals with Depressive Symptoms. Quarterly of Experimental and Cognitive Psychology, 1(3), 58–72. https://quarterlyecp.com/index.php/ecp/article/view/49.
14. Barkley, R. A. (2012). Executive functions: What they are, how they work, and why they evolved. Guilford Press. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2012-15750-000
15. Bayat, M., Beshrpour, S., Aghajani, S., & Mikaili, N. (2025). Comparison of the efficacy of emotional schema therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy on distress tolerance and emotion regulation difficulty in people with major depressive disorder. Journal of Psychological Science, 24(150), 59–81. https://psychologicalscience.ir/article-1-2616-fa.html
16. Bayat, M., Narimani, M., & Basharpoor, S. (2020). Comparing The Effectiveness of dialectical behavior therapy with acceptance and commitment based therapy on emotion regulation and interpersonal relationships in adults with ADHD. Medical Journal of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, 62(5.1), 54–74. https://doi.org/10.22038/mjms.2019.14747
17. Besharat, M. A. (2019). Emotion Regulation Difficulty Scale. Thoughts and Behavior in Clinical Psychology, 47(12), 89–92. https://doi.org/10.48308/apsy.2023.231548.1485.
18. Burkhardt, G., Kumpf, U., Crispin, A., Goerigk, S., Andre, E., Plewnia, C.,... & Padberg, F. (2023). Transcranial direct current stimulation as an additional treatment to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in adults with major depressive disorder in Germany (DepressionDC): A triple-blind, randomised, sham-controlled, multicentre trial. The Lancet, 402(10401), 545–554. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(23)00640-2.
19. Chrysikou, E. G., Wing, E. K., & van Dam, W. O. (2022). Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Over the Prefrontal Cortex in Depression Modulates Cortical Excitability in Emotion Regulation Regions as Measured by Concurrent Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging: An Exploratory Study. Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, 7(1), 85–94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpsc.2019.12.004.
20. Cohen, F., Brooks, C. V., Sun, D., Buse, D. C., Reed, M. L., Fanning, K. M., & Lipton, R. B. (2024). Prevalence and burden of migraine in the United States: A systematic review. Headache, 64(5), 516–532. https://doi.org/10.1111/head.14709.
21. de Brito Aranha, R. E. L., Torro-Alves, N., Andrade, S. M., de Oliveira, E. A., da Silva, B. N. V., da Fonseca, É. K. G.,... & Fernández-Calvo, B. (2022). Effects on pain and cognition of transcranial direct current stimulation over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in women with chronic migraine. Neurophysiologie Clinique, 52(4), 333–338. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neucli.2022.07.005.
22. Esmaili, M., Hashemi, S. E., Mehrabizadeh Honarmand, M., Hamid, N., & Ahmadian, M. (2024). Exploring the lived emotional experiences patients with migraine disorder. Journal of Psychological Science, 22(132), 75–92. https://doi.org/10.52547/JPS.22.132.2467.
23. Filzmoser, N., Webber, I., Kerr, G., et al. (2024). Exploring the link between self-management of migraine and emotional wellbeing: A cross-sectional study of community-dwelling migraine sufferers. BMC Neurology, 24(1), 47. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12883-024-03535-0.
24. Forooghi, F., Gholamzadeh Jofreh, M., Kazemian Moghadam, K., & Abedi, P. (2024). Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on Negative Emotion Regulation, Distress Tolerance and Psychological Resilience in Women with Migraine. Journal of Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, 31(5), 733–746. https://doi.org/10.30468/jsums.2024.7733.3036.
25. Gratz, K. L., & Roemer, L. (2004). Multidimensional assessment of emotion regulation and dysregulation: Development, factor structure, and initial validation of the difficulties in emotion regulation scale. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 26(1), 41–54. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1023/B:JOBA.0000007455.08539.94.
26. Hawas, Y., Abbas, A., Alkhawaldeh, I. M., Zeid, M. A., Al Azzawi, M. A. D., Alsalhi, H. K., & Negida, A. (2024). Efficacy and safety of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in treatment of refractory epilepsy: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized sham-controlled trials. Neurological Sciences, 45(1), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-024-07866-1.
27. Hendry, A., Bedford, R., Agyapong, M., Begum Ali, J., Bazelmans, T., Ersoy, M.,... & STAARS Team. (2025). Simple Executive Function as an endophenotype of autism-ADHD, and differing associations between simple versus complex Executive Functions and autism/ADHD traits. Scientific Reports, 15(1), 4925. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-87863-2.
28. Hong, P., Liu, Y., Wan, Y., Xiong, H., & Xu, Y. (2022). Transcranial direct current stimulation for migraine: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics, 28(7), 992–998. https://doi.org/10.1111/cns.13843.
29. Kaiser Pinotti, L., Castro, A. D. S., de Oliveira Garcia, G. H., Alvim, P. H. P., Roza, T. H., Andrade, F. A.,... & Massuda, R. (2023). Executive functions in migraine patients: A systematic review with meta-analysis. Cognitive Neuropsychiatry, 28(1), 52–66. https://doi.org/10.1080/13546805.2022.2149390.
30. Kuo, H. I., Paulus, W., Batsikadze, G., Jamil, A., Kuo, M. F., & Nitsche, M. A. (2016). Chronic enhancement of serotonin facilitates excitatory transcranial direct current stimulation-induced neuroplasticity. Neuropsychopharmacology, 41(5), 1223–1230. https://doi.org/10.1038/npp.2015.270.
31. Lee, S. H., Lee, Y., Song, M., Lee, J. J., & Sohn, J. H. (2021). Differences in frontal lobe dysfunction in patients with episodic and chronic migraine. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 10(13), 2779. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm10132779.
32. Longo, V., Barbati, S. A., Re, A., Paciello, F., Bolla, M., Rinaudo, M.,... & Grassi, C. (2022). Transcranial direct current stimulation enhances neuroplasticity and accelerates motor recovery in a stroke mouse model. Stroke, 53(5), 1746–1758. https://doi.org/10.1161/strokeaha.121.034200
33. Magierek, V., Carvalho, L. S. G. D., Assis, C. G. B. D., & Jurno, M. E. (2024). Executive and attentional functions in patients with migraine. Revista Headache Medicine, 15(1), 18–24. https://headachemedicine.com.br/index.php/hm/article/view/793
34. Mirhosseini, S. S., Dehghani-Arani, F., & Safarifard, R. (2023). The Mediating Role of Executive Functions in the Relationship Between E-Learning Readiness and Academic Performance During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Journal of Applied Psychological Research, 14(3), 105–119. https://doi.org/10.22059/japr.2023.352321.644473.
35. Narmashiri, A., & Akbari, F. (2025). The Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) on the Cognitive Functions: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Neuropsychology Review, 35(1), 126–152. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11065-023-09627-x.
36. Nascimento, B. S. R., de Araujo e Araujo, A. C. R., Pires, J. A. P., et al. (2024). Epidemiology of migraine and other cephalic pain syndromes in Brazil. Journal of Neurology and Stroke, 14(3), 82–86. https://www.medcrave.com/articles/det/28402/Epidemiology-of-migraine-and-other-cephalic-pain-syndromes-in-Brazil.
37. Nasiri, F., Ellard, K. K., Mashhadi, A., Bigdeli, I., & Ghanaei-Chamanabad, A. (2023). Augmenting the unified protocol with transcranial direct current stimulation: Effects on emotion regulation and executive dysfunction. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 30(2), 446–457. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.2812.
38. Noorani Jurjadeh, S. R., Mashhadi, A., Tabibi, Z., & Kheirkhah, F. (2016). Effectiveness of Executive Functions Training Based on Daily Life on Executive Functioning in Children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Advances in Cognitive Sciences, 18(1), 68–78. http://icssjournal.ir/article-1-433-en.html.
39. Schmitz, N., Arkink, E. B., Mulder, M., Rubia, K., Admiraal-Behloul, F., Schoonmann, G. G.,... & van Buchem, M. A. (2008). Frontal lobe structure and executive function in migraine patients. Neuroscience Letters, 440(2), 92–96. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neulet.2008.05.033
40. Sebastianelli, G., Atalar, A. Ç., Cetta, I., et al. (2024). Insights from triggers and prodromal symptoms on how migraine attacks start: The threshold hypothesis. Cephalalgia, 44(10), 28–45. https://doi.org/10.1177/03331024241287224.
41. Solhi, M., Derakhshan, A., & Ünsal, B. (2025). Associations between EFL students’ L2 grit, boredom coping strategies, and emotion regulation strategies: A structural equation modeling approach. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 46(2), 224–243. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01434632.2023.2175834.
42. Soltani Nazarloo, M., & Delavarpour, M. (2025). The relationship between executive functions and academic self-efficacy with addiction to online games. Journal of Psychological Science, 24(145), 63–79. https://doi.org/10.52547/JPS.24.145.63.
43. Song, X., Zhu, Q., Su, L., Shi, L., Chi, H., Yan, Y.,... & Yang, J. (2024). New perspectives on migraine treatment: A review of the mechanisms and effects of complementary and alternative therapies. Frontiers in Neurology, 15, 1372509. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2024.1372509.
44. Vergallito, A., Riva, P., Pisoni, A., & Romero Lauro, L. J. (2018). Modulation of negative emotions through anodal tDCS over the right ventrolateral prefrontal cortex. Neuropsychologia, 119, 128–135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2018.07.037.
45. Wilcox, S. L., Veggeberg, R., Lemme, J., Hodkinson, D. J., Scrivani, S., Burstein, R., Becerra, L., & Borsook, D. (2016). Increased Functional Activation of Limbic Brain Regions during Negative Emotional Processing in Migraine. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 10, 366. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2016.00366.
46. Zebardast, A., & Shafieetabar, M. (2019). Positive/Negative Affect, Strategies of Cognitive Emotion Regulation and Alexithymia in Female Patients with Migraine Headache. Journal of Child Mental Health, 6(2), 180–193. http://dx.doi.org/10.29252/jcmh.6.2.16.

Add your comments about this article : Your username or Email:
CAPTCHA

Send email to the article author


Rights and permissions
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) License.

© 2026 CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 | Journal of Psychological Science

Designed & Developed by : Yektaweb

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)