ORIGINAL ARTICLE   

Minerva Psichiatrica 2016 March;57(1):42-50

Copyright © 2016 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

lingua: Inglese

Is there any difference between anger and personality traits in female migraineurs with and without aura

Dilaram B. ÇELIK ¹, Fethi IDIMAN ², Haluk ARKAR ³, Derya KAYA ⁴

¹ Department of Psychology, University of Mustafa Kemal, Hatay, Turkey; ² Department of Neurology, University of Dokuz Eylul, Izmir,Turkey; ³ Psychology, University of Ege, Izmir, Turkey; ⁴ Department of Geriatrics, University of Dokuz Eylul, Izmir, Turkey

BACKGROUND: There are a limited number of researches that evaluate both the personality traits by using temperament and character inventory (TCI) and also the anger traits in female migraineurs with and without aura.
METHODS: Eighty-two female patients diagnosed with migraine according to International Classification of Headache Disorders-2004 were enrolled in this study and compared to a control group of 78 female subjects. Patients and controls completed the Temperament and Character Inventory, The Beck Depression Inventory, and the Trait Anger Expression Inventory.
RESULTS: Our analysis of the effect of depression revealed that the female patients with migraine had significantly higher scores in Persistence (P=0.005), significantly lower scores in Novelty Seeking (P<0.002) and higher scores in anger out (P=0.05) than controls. Furthermore, we found that the female migraineurs with aura had higher anger-out scores than those without aura (P=0.005).
CONCLUSION: After maintaining successful management of mood disorders observed in migraine patients, mental health professionals can use various cognitive behavioral therapy techniques to alter the “migraine personality”, which seems to include traits related persistence and disengagement in exploratory activities, and to reduce destructive expressions of anger. In addition, we believe that it would be beneficial to provide psychoeducation on anger management for female migraineurs, particularly with aura.