Prevalence of personality disorders in patients with chronic migraine

Peripheral Endocannabinoid Components and Lipid Plasma Levels in Patients with Resistant Migraine and Co-Morbid Personality and Psychological Disorders: A Cross-Sectional Study

Resistant migraine characterizes those patients who have failed at least three classes of migraine prophylaxis. These difficult-to-treat patients are likely to be characterized by a high prevalence of psychological disturbances. A dysfunction of the endocannabinoid system (ECS), including alteration in the levels of endocannabinoid congeners, may underlie several psychiatric disorders and the pathogenesis of migraines. Here we explored whether the peripheral gene expression of major components of the ECS and the plasma levels of endocannabinoids and related lipids are associated with psychological disorders in resistant migraine. Fifty-one patients (age = 46.0 ± 11.7) with resistant migraine received a comprehensive psychological evaluation according to the DSM-5 criteria. Among the patients, 61% had personality disorders (PD) and 61% had mood disorders (MD). Several associations were found between these psychological disorders and peripheral ECS alterations. Lower plasma levels of palmitoiletanolamide (PEA) were found in the PD group compared with the non-PD group. The MD group was characterized by lower mRNA levels of diacylglycerol lipase α (DAGLα) and CB2 (cannabinoid-2) receptor. The results suggest the existence of peripheral dysfunction in some components of the ECS and an alteration in plasma levels of PEA in patients with resistant migraine and mood or personality disorders.

[Mental disorders, social and demographic characteristics of patients with chronic and episodic migraine]

OBJECTIVE

To compare socio-demographic, clinical and psychological characteristics and comorbid mental disorders in patients with chronic migraine (CM) and episodic migraine (EM).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Eighty patients with migraine (40 with CM (16 men and 24 women, mean age 33.5±6.1 years) and 40 with EM (9 men and 31 women, mean age 31.4±5.7 years) were examined. All patients were interviewed and tested with psychometric methods. Socio-demographic and clinical-psychological characteristics were determined in all patients. The psychiatrist assessed the mental status of patients and diagnosed comorbid mental disorders according to the ICD-10 criteria.

RESULTS

Symptoms of depression, high levels of trait and state anxiety, and a tendency to emotional inadequacy of response were more common in CM patients than in EM patients (p<0.05). Mental disorders, predominantly of the anxiety-depressive spectrum, were more common in CM patients than EM patients (OR (95% CI)=2.54 (2.03 to 2.98, p<0.001). Seventy-five percent of CM patients had more than one psychiatric diagnosis, almost a quarter of CM patients had schizotypal disorder, which is significantly higher than in EM patients (OR (95% CI)=1.99; 1.03 to 2.42, p<0.001). There were more unmarried, single (without constant partner), unemployed, high-education patients in the CM group than in the EM group. The negative impact of headache on the daily activity of patients was significantly higher in the CM group than in the EM group (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Mental disorders and psychological features (anxiety, depression symptoms, a tendency to emotional inadequacy of response) are more common in CM patients than in EM patients. The presence of these factors may contribute to the chronification of migraine.

Personality in Chronic Headache: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis

Background

Chronic headache (CH) is a condition that includes different subtypes of headaches and that can impair different life domains. Personality traits can play a relevant role both in the development and in coping with this medical condition. The first aim of the present study is to realize a systematic review of the personality traits associated with CH compared to healthy controls; the second objective is to carry out a quantitative meta-analysis with the studies using the same instrument to assess personality traits.

Method

The literature search encompassed articles published from 1988 until December 2022 on the major databases in the field of health and social sciences: PubMed, Scopus, PsychInfo, and Web of Science.

Results

Thirteen studies were included in the systematic review, but only three studies were deeply explored in a meta-analysis since the only ones used a common instrument for personality assessment (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory). According to the meta-analysis, different subtypes of CH patients scored higher than healthy controls on Hypochondriasis and Hysteria Scales. The systematic review showed higher levels of depressive and anxious personality dimensions and pain catastrophizing in CH compared to healthy controls. Moreover, frequent-chronic forms and medication-overuse headache were the most symptomatic and frail categories showing higher levels of dysfunctional personality traits and psychopathological symptoms.

Conclusions

These results seem to confirm a "neurotic profile" in patients suffering from CH. The identification of the main personality traits involved in the onset and maintenance of headache disorders represents an important objective for developing psychological interventions.

Role of Personality and Psychiatric Disorders in the Perception of Pain

Although previous studies have shown that psychiatric and personality disorders are more prevalent in chronic pain than in pain-free groups, few studies have investigated the prevalence of personality disorders (PerDs) in patients with chronic pain with and without a psychiatric comorbidity. The aim of the present study was therefore designed to investigate the burden of PerDs on the prevalence and perception of chronic pain in patients with and without psychiatric comorbidity. 232 patients from the Gift Institute for Integrative Medicine in Pisa, Italy, of which n = 161 (69.4%) were patients with chronic pain, were administered the SCID II for personality disorders and MINI for DSM IV-TR criteria. Both psychiatric and personality disorders were more prevalent in the chronic pain group than in the pain-free group (χ2 = 5.9, p = .015, φ = .16; χ2 = 7.2, p = .007, φ = .18). Cluster A and C PerDs were more prevalent in patients with chronic pain than in subjects without pain (χ2 = 8.1, p = .004, φ = .19; χ2 = 4.7, p = .030, φ = .14, respectively). Unlike Cluster C PerDs, however, Cluster A PerDs were more prevalent in the absence of psychiatric comorbidity (χ2 = 5.0, p = .024, φ = .29), and by themselves worsened the pain perceived. An appropriate PerD diagnosis can be helpful in the treatment of patients with chronic pain.

A meta-analysis and meta-regression analysis of the global prevalence of obsessive-compulsive personality disorder

There is a relative dearth of research on Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD), even if it has been recognized for over 100 years. Thus, the present study aims to review the worldwide prevalence of OCPD in different populations. The search was conducted employing the PubMed database of the US National Library of Medicine and Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde (BVS) to detect available studies showing OCPD prevalence rates. All the prevalence rates were extracted and aggregated through random-effects models. Meta-regression and sensitivity analyses were performed. The final sample was composed of 46 articles, including 89,264 individuals. We found that OCPD reports a high prevalence rate, with 6.5% (95%CI = 4.3–9.1%), and reaching even higher among psychiatric and clinical patient population. OCPD has presented stable prevalence rates worldwide throughout the past 28 years. There was no gender-related effect, but OCPD prevalence rates may decrease with age increase. There is a need to investigate personality disorders epidemiology based on the recently updated classification systems (i.e., DSM-5 and ICD-11). The present meta-analysis may suggest that the current diagnostic tools may detect OCPD in a cross-sectional assessment but not throughout the life of the person.

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OCPD rates do not vary significantly around the globe, with a prevalence of 6.5%.

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Higher rates were found in psychiatric and clinical patients’ population.

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OCPD prevalence has been stable throughout the past 28 years.

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There was no genre-related effect but it may decrease with age increase.

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The current diagnostic instruments may detect OCPD but may not concisely and adequately evaluate its clinical impact.

Psychological predictors of negative treatment outcome with Erenumab in chronic migraine: data from an open label long-term prospective study

Background

Monoclonal antibodies (mABs) targeting the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) pathway represent the first disease-specific preventive migraine therapy. Growing evidence suggests that they are effective in the preventive treatment of difficult-to-treat patients. In this study, we evaluated the psychological predictors of the outcome of treatment with the anti-CGRP monoclonal antibody erenumab in patients with chronic migraine (CM).

Methods

Seventy-five patients with CM who had already failed at least 3 preventive therapies received erenumab every 28 days for a period of 12 months. Before the first administration, patients received a full psychological evaluation using The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 Clinician Version (SCID-5-CV) to assess personality disturbances (primary outcome), mood and anxiety disorders, and as well specific questionnaires to evaluate alexithymia traits, childhood traumas, and current stressors (secondary outcomes).

Results

After 12 months of treatment, 53 patients reported a reduction of at least 50% in headache days/per month (Responders), whereas 22 did not (Non Responders). When compared to Responders, Non Responders were characterized by a higher prevalence of personality disorders belonging to Cluster C (avoidant, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive) (77% vs 37%, p = .001). Non Responders were also characterized by a higher prevalence of anxiety disorders (90% vs 60%, p = 0.007), showed more alexithymic traits (51.7 ± 13.7 vs 42.9 ± 14.3, p = 0.017), and reported a higher number of 'at least serious' current stressors (3.2 ± 4.0 vs 0.8 ± 1.4, p < .0001) than Responders. At the multivariate analysis, higher prevalence of Cluster C personality disorders (OR 3.697; p = 0.05) and higher number of ‘at least serious’ life events (OR 1.382; p = 0.017) arose as prognostic factors of erenumab failure.

Conclusions

Erenumab confirmed its effectiveness in a population of difficult-to-treat migraine. The presence of “anxious-fearful” personality together with current stressors and anxiety represent negative predictors of treatment outcome.

Trial registration

The study protocol was registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04361721).

From transformation to chronification of migraine: pathophysiological and clinical aspects

Chronic migraine is a neurological disorder characterized by 15 or more headache days per month of which at least 8 days show typical migraine features. The process that describes the development from episodic migraine into chronic migraine is commonly referred to as migraine transformation or chronification. Ample studies have attempted to identify factors associated with migraine transformation from different perspectives. Understanding CM as a pathological brain state with trigeminovascular participation where biological changes occur, we have completed a comprehensive review on the clinical, epidemiological, genetic, molecular, structural, functional, physiological and preclinical evidence available.

Interpersonal Problems Associated With Passive-Aggressive Personality Disorder

With a controversial history, passive-aggressive personality disorder (PAPD) was eventually removed from the latest edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders. Despite its demise from diagnostic nomenclature, clinicians continue to regard it as a clinically relevant construct, and some researchers argue for its resurrection. Toward this end, it is important to empirically demonstrate the relevance of the passive-aggressive personality construct, including demonstrating its association with impaired functioning. Consistent with contemporary emphasis on interpersonal functioning in personality pathology, the current study aims to explore interpersonal problems that are associated with PAPD in a large clinical sample. Before beginning treatment, 240 patients completed assessments of personality psychopathology and interpersonal functioning. Results showed that higher levels of PAPD were significantly associated with greater level of interpersonal distress, especially regarding interpersonal problems of a vindictive nature. The findings are consistent with clinical descriptions of the core conflictual relational issues of patients with PAPD and lend some support to further considering PAPD as a valid diagnostic construct.

Personality and Personality Disorders in Medication-Overuse Headache: A Controlled Study by SWAP-200

Background

Medication-overuse headache (MOH) is a type of chronic headache, whose mechanisms are still unknown. The impact of psychological factors has been matter of debate from different perspectives. The role of personality and personality pathology in processes involved in MOH development has been advanced but was poorly studied. The hypothesis of addiction-like behaviors sustaining the drug misuse has been examined and reached contrasting findings.

Objectives

This study is aimed at detecting personality and its disorders (PDs) in MOH, with a specific attention to the addiction aspect.

Methods

Eighty-eight MOH patients have been compared with two clinical populations including 99 patients with substance use disorder (SUD) and 91 with PDs using the Shedler-Westen Assessment Procedure-200 (SWAP-200), a clinician-report tool that assesses both normal and pathological personality. MANCOVAs were performed to evaluate personality differences among MOH, SUD, and PD groups, controlling for age and gender.

Results

MOH patients were predominantly women and older. They showed lower traits of the SWAP-200's cluster A and B disorders than SUD and PD patients, who presented more severe levels of personality impairment. No differences in the SWAP-200's cluster C have been found, indicating common personality features in these populations. At levels of specific PDs, MOH patients showed higher obsessive and dysphoric traits and better overall psychological functioning than SUD and PD patients.

Conclusion

Although MOH, SUD, and PD populations have been evaluated in multiple sites with different levels of expertise, the study supported the presence of a specific constellation of personality in MOH patients including obsessive (perfectionist) and dysphoric characteristics, as well as good enough psychological resources. No similarities to drug-addicted and personality-disordered patients were found. Practitioners' careful understanding of the personality characteristics of MOH patients may be useful to provide a road map for the implementation of more effective treatment strategies and intervention programs.

Personality disorders are associated with more severe forms of migraine

To investigate the clinical manifestation, disease course, and prognosis of migraine patients with or without personality disorders. This cross-sectional study evaluated 61 patients with migraine diagnosed according to the criteria of the International Headache Society (IHS). Personality disorders were assessed with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID-II). Migraine severity was assessed with the Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6). We also used a structured clinical interview to diagnose comorbid mood disorders. Of the 61 patients, 20 (32.8%) had personality disorders. Personality disorders included obsessive-compulsive 14/61 (23.0%), avoidant 6/61 (9.8%), borderline 6/61 (9.8%), paranoid 6/61 (9.8%), schizoid 2/61 (3.3%), histrionic 1/61 (1.6%) and dependent 1/61 (1.6%) types. Compared to migraine patients without personality disorders, comorbidity with any personality disorders was associated with an increased frequency of chronic migraine (p < 0.001) and more severe headache as assessed by the HIT-6 (p < 0.001). Comorbidity with personality disorders was associated with more severe forms of migraine symptoms.

Aggression and its association with suicidality in migraine patients: a case-control study

Background

To identify aggression and its association with suicidality in migraine patients.

Methods

We enrolled 144 migraine patients who made their first visit to our headache clinic. We collected data regarding their clinical characteristics and the patients completes the Aggression Questionnaire (AQ) and other questionnaires. We also interviewed patients with the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview—Plus Version 5.0.0 (MINI) to identify their suicidality. The degree of aggression in migraine patients was compared to the degree of aggression in healthy controls. Major determinants for aggression and its association with suicidality were also examined.

Results

The overall AQ score and anger and hostility subscale scores were higher in migraine patients than controls. For migraine chronicity, patients with chronic migraine (CM) had a higher overall AQ score and physical aggression, anger, and hostility subscale scores than controls. On the other hand, all AQ scores in patients with episodic migraine were not different from the scores of the controls. Although several factors were associated with the overall AQ score, major determinants were anxiety (ß = 0.395, p < 0.001), headache intensity (ß = 0.180, p = 0.016), and CM (ß = − 0.165, p = 0.037). Patients who had suicidality based on the MINI showed a higher overall AQ score than patients without suicidality (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Aggression is likely to be a common feature in CM. Comorbid aggression may help to identify suicidality in migraine patients.

Screening for bipolar disorder among migraineurs: the impact of migraine-bipolar disorder comorbidity on disease characteristics

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of comorbid bipolar disorder (BD) among migraineurs and the impact of migraine-BD comorbidity on disease characteristics.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 120 adult patients diagnosed with migraine at a single tertiary care center were included in this cross-sectional study. Data on sociodemographic and migraine-related characteristics, family history of psychiatric diseases, comorbid psychiatric diseases, and first-episode characteristics were recorded. Mood Disorders Diagnosis and Patient Registration Form (SCIP-TURK), Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ), and Hypomania Checklist-32-Revised (HCL-32-R) were applied to all patients by experienced clinicians, and clinical diagnoses were confirmed using Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID-I). Migraine Disability Assessment Scale (MIDAS) was used to evaluate the headache-related disability. Study parameters were compared between migraineurs with and without comorbid BD.

RESULTS

The diagnosis of comorbid BD was confirmed in 19.2% of migraineurs. A significantly higher percentage of patients with comorbid BD than those without comorbid BD had family history of BD (39.1% vs 6.2%, P<0.001), suicide attempt (30.4% vs 5.2%, P<0.001), and physical abuse (52.2% vs 26.8%, P=0.019). MIDAS scores were significantly higher (50.6 [43.2] vs 33.8 [42.7], P=0.0422) in migraineurs with comorbid BD than in those without comorbid BD. Multivariate logistic regression model revealed that a positive family history of type I BD (odds ratio [OR], 14.42; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.94-70.73; P=0.001) and MIDAS scores >30 (OR, 3.69; 95% CI, 1.12-12.19; P=0.032) were associated with 14.42 times and 3.69 times increased likelihood of BD, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Our findings revealed comorbid BD in a remarkable percentage of migraineurs and a higher likelihood of having BD in case of a positive family history of type I BD and MIDAS scores >30. Comorbid BD was associated with a higher rate for a family history of BD, suicide attempt, and childhood physical abuse as well as aggravated migraine-related disability among migraineurs. Migraineurs with and without comorbid BD showed similar sociodemographic and migraine disease characteristics as well as similar high rates for comorbid anxiety and first-episode depression.