Introduction: Migraine is a neurological syndrome characterized by altered bodily perceptions, severe headaches, and nausea, more common to women than to men. Various psychiatric disorders like panic disorder and depression have been associated with migraine, leading to further disability of migraine sufferers in all aspects of their daily lives. The aim of study was to assess the personality pattern of individuals with migraine as compared to normal.
Method: Individuals, both normal controls and migraine sufferers were assessed on Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-2).
Result: Elevations were found in the scales on hypochondriasis, depression, hysteria, psychasthenia and schizophrenia. Females were more to have reported headaches. Individuals with migraine showed lower level of education along with positive family history.
Conclusion: Migraine sufferers display a conversion profile with depression being common. Although some psychotic scales may be elevated but they do not qualify for an independent identity.
E., Sheftell, F. D., Rapaport, A. M., et al. (2003) MMPI personality profiles in patients with primary chronic headache: A casecontrol study. Neurological Sciences, 24: 103-110
, & Davis, G. C. (1993) Migraine, physical health and psychiatric disorder: a prospective epidemiologic study in young adults. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 27: 211–221.
N., Dahlstrom, W. G., Graham, J. R. et al. (1989). MMPI-2. Minneapolis, MN: Minnesota University Press.
, Zhang, S., Wang, K., et al. (2002) Personality traits in migraine and tension-type headaches: A five factors model study. Psychopathology, 35: 254-258.
, Libro, G., Prudenzano, M. P. et al. (2000) Stress and chronic headache. Journal of Headache and Pain, 1: 49–52.
, & Klove, H. (1987) MMPI patterns in chronic muscle pain, tension headache, and migraine. Cephalalgia, 7: 65-71.
, & William, P. (1998) A user's guide to the general health questionnaire. Windsor, UK: NFER-Nelson.
, & Galli, F. (2002) Psychiatric comorbidity in chronic daily headache: Pathophysiology, etiology and diagnosis. Current Pain and Headache Reports, 6: 492-497.
Subcommittee of the International Headache Society (2004) The International classification of headache disorders II Ed. Cephalalgia, 24: 9-160.
, & Sutkus, B. J. (1979) MMPI pattern specificity in primary headache disorders. Headache, 19: 18–24.
R., Angst, J., & Isler, H. (1990) Migraine and psychopathology. Results of the Zurich cohort study of young adults. Archives of General Psychiatry, 47: 849–853.
, Ciccone, G., Deregibus, A. et al. (2004) Muscle tenderness in different headache types and its relation to anxiety and depression. Pain, 112: 58–63.
, Defilippi, N., & Negro, C. (1997) Chronic daily headache. A clinical and psychological profile before and after treatment. Headache, 37: 83-87.
, Ibertis, F., & Ferla, E. (1994) Personality characteristics before and after treatment of different head pain syndromes. Cephalalgia, 14: 368–373.
, Tfelt-Hansen, P., & Welch, K. M. A. (2000) The headaches. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
I., Bigal, E. M., & Lipton, R. B. (2005) Comorbidity of migraine. Current Opinionin Neurology, 18: 305-310.
E. P. (1975) Helplessness: on depression, development and death. WH Freeman, San Francisco.
A., Dyb, G., Hagen, K., et al. (2003) Depression and anxiety disorders associated with headache frequency. The Nord-Trondelag Health Study. European Journal of Neurology, 10: 147–152.
