Work

Medication overuse in patients with migraine: Severity of dependence and personality characteristics

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Introduction Factors associated with the development of medication overuse (MO) are not fully understood. The aim of this article is to investigate whether patients diagnosed with migraine with and without MO differed in personality characteristics. Methods The study was a single-center observational study of patients with migraine, as defined by the International Classification of Headache Disorders III (ICHD-III). After written consent, patients were given access to an online survey. Scores obtained in the Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS) and NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI), namely openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism, from both patients with and without MO were compared applying Mann–Whitney U-test. Results A total of 128 patients completed the survey, of which 46 (35.9%) were migraine patients with analgesic overuse. Patients with migraine and MO were significantly older (41.2 ± 8.6 vs. 37.5 ± 11.4, p = 0.015), while the percentage of female patients was equivalent between groups (73.3% vs. 86.4%, p = 0.068). Migraine patients with MO reported more frequent past or current visits to mental care providers (52.2% vs. 29.4%, p = 0.015). Scores obtained in the SDS were comparable between groups (2.8 ± 3.8 vs. 2.3 ± 2.9, p = 0.756). Patients with migraine without MO scored significantly higher on agreeableness ( p = 0.016). No differences were observed between groups regarding the remaining personality characteristics. Conclusions Migraine patients with MO were significantly more likely to report past or current visits to mental health care providers compared to those without MO. Differences in personality traits were minimal, with only agreeableness being significantly higher in migraine patients without MO.

Source: Cephalalgia Reports

DOI: 10.1177/25158163251318713

Authors: Sofia Alexandra Reis Marques, Matilde Silva Gomes, Andreia Ferreira, Luís Costa, Sofia Lopes, Sara Dias Varanda

Institutions: Hospital Braga, Unidade Local de Saúde do Alto Minho

Language: English

Topic: Migraine and Headache Studies

Subfield: Clinical Neurology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,500