Personality Traits, Depression and Migraine in Women: A Longitudinal Study

Abstract

Our purpose was to examine the association between personality traits, depression and migraine in the long term. In 56 women with migraine a psychological assessment was carried out to assess the presence of major depression, and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) and the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) were administered at baseline (T0) and after 6-7 years (T2). Frequency, severity and duration of migraine were recorded at T0, after treatment (T1) and at T2, and their relation to the prevalence of depression and to the MMPI and STAI data was examined (ANOVA, Student's t-test, chi2 analysis, and multiple regression analysis). Pain parameters improved in all patients in T0-T1, but at T2 were higher in patients with depression at T0. The patients whose migraine improved at T2 had, at T0 and T2, significantly lower MMPI and STAI scores. Multiple regression analysis showed a correlation of the MMPI depression score and STAI 1,2 scores at T0 with headache frequency at T2. We conclude that the co-occurrence of migraine, personality changes and depression in women does not appear to influence the results of treatment at short-term, but it seems to be influential on headache history in the long term.

The Temperament and Character Inventory in women with migraine

“…Highly HA individuals are described as extremely careful, passive, fearful, insecure and prone to react with a high rate of anxiety and depression to stressful events, while high P levels express the tendency to maintain unrewarded behaviours and correlate with rigidity and obsessiveness [1]. Low levels of SDir are an important predictor of categorical diagnosis of DSM Axis I disorders which are frequently associated with migraine [5][6][7][8].…”

“…As mood and anxiety disorders are a frequent finding in headache patients [5][6][7][8], the question arises as the extent to which the differences in TCI dimensions observed in migraine patients depend on the headache pathology or on the presence of depression. Both pathologies are indeed characterised by the involvement of the serotoninergic system.…”

Personality traits, personality disorders, and migraine: a review

“…Some studies suggest that specific personality profiles predict response to pharmacologic treatments. In a longitudinal clinic study examining personality traits, depression, and migraine in women, patients who were improved significantly at 6-year follow-up had lower baseline scores on MMPI-2 scales of depression, psychopathic deviation, paranoia, psychasthenia, schizophrenia, and social introversion than patients who were not improved [29]. Both outcome groups had equivalent percentages of medication use across prescription drug types.…”

Psychiatric screening for migraine patients

“…First, the comorbidity with anxiety and mood disorders has been associated with a negative long-term prognosis in migraine and might play a role in perpetuating MO [13]. A bidirectional influence has been observed between migraine and depression, with each disorder increasing the risk for onset of the other [14,15].…”