Personality traits in patients with chronic migraine: a categorial and dimensional study in a series of 30 patients
*Correspondencia: Dr. Ángel Luis Guerrero Peral. Servicio de Neurología. Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valladolid. Ramón y Cajal, 3. E-47005 Valladolid.
E-mail: gueneurol@gmail.com
Introduction: The pathogenic role of personality in migraine has not yet been defined. It can be studied by means of dimensional or categorial measurement instruments, although there is no agreement as to the most suitable approach in this respect either.
Aim: To analyse the personality of patients with chronic migraine from the dimensional and categorial point of view.
Patients and methods: We used the Salamanca questionnaire as our categorial test and, as the dimensional test, we employed the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2). Mood disorders were evaluated with the hospital anxiety and depression scale and the impact of migraine was determined by means of the Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6).
Results: We included 30 patients (26 females), with a mean age of 40.7 ± 9.6 years. One case (3.3%) presented criteria for depression and four (13.3%) for anxiety. In the Salamanca test, the most common personality traits were those included within cluster C: anankastic (n = 28; 93.3%), anxious (n = 18; 60%) and dependent (n = 7; 23.3%). On the MMPI-2, 16 patients (53.3%) fulfilled criteria for hypochondria; 7 (23.3%) for depression; and 10 (33.3%) for hysteria, which are traits included within the neurotic triad. A pattern called 'conversion V' was observed. No correlation was found between the personality traits and the length of time with chronic migraine, the intensity measured by HIT-6 or the excessive use of symptomatic medication.
Conclusions: In the analysis of the personality in chronic migraine, what stood out from the dimensional point of view was neuroticism and as regards the categorial perspective, the obsessive-compulsive or anankastic trait was the most salient. More extensive series need to be conducted, together with comparisons with episodic migraine and population control.
Objetivo Analizar la personalidad de pacientes con migraña crónica desde el punto de vista dimensional y categorial.
Pacientes y métodos Como test categorial utilizamos el cuestionario Salamanca, y, como dimensional, el Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2). Evaluamos trastornos del ánimo con la escala de ansiedad y depresión hospitalaria y el impacto de la migraña mediante el Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6).
Resultados Incluimos 30 pacientes (26 mujeres), con una edad media de 40,7 ± 9,6 años. Un caso (3,3%) presentaba criterios de depresión, y 4 (13,3%), de ansiedad. En el test Salamanca, los rasgos de personalidad más frecuentes fueron los integrados en el cluster C: anancástico (n = 28; 93,3%), ansioso (n = 18; 60%) y dependiente (n = 7; 23,3%). En el MMPI-2, 16 pacientes (53,3%) cumplían criterios de hipocondría; 7 (23,3%), de depresión, y 10 (33,3%), de histeria, rasgos integrados en la tríada neurótica. Se objetivó una configuración denominada ‘conversiva V’. No hallamos correlación entre los rasgos de personalidad y el tiempo de migraña crónica, la intensidad medida por el HIT-6 o el uso excesivo de medicación sintomática.
Conclusiones En el análisis de la personalidad en la migraña crónica destaca, desde el punto de vista dimensional, el neuroticismo, y respecto al categorial, el rasgo obsesivo-compulsivo o anancástico. Es necesario el estudio de series más extensas y la comparación con pacientes con migraña episódica y población control.
