Patients Explain: Why is Migraine “Bad”?
A recent study attempted to summarize real patients’ responses to migraine, and the results are fascinating.
There are some great resources out there that truly capture what migraine patients have to say, such as the brilliant book Migraine Expressions. This study takes a more scientific approach, collecting and indexing interviews with patients, and attempting to summarize what most concerned them.
Here’s a quick summary of Learning the full impact of migraine through patient voices: A qualitative study, published in the journal Headache. First, 90% reported that migraine had a negative impact on overall life. 68% identified specific areas of life that migraine affected. And 52% zeroed in on migraine’s effect on emotional health.
The study summarized the effect of migraine into 6 categories:
- global negative impact on overall life
- impact on emotional health
- impact on cognitive function (trouble concentrating or communicating)
- impact on specific domains of life (work/career, family, social)
- fear and avoidance (pain catastrophizing and anticipatory anxiety)
- internalized and externalized stigma
Next, the study summarized how patients basically explained why migraine attacks are bad. I’m sure you can identify with some of these:
- Migraine controls life
- Migraine makes life difficult
- Migraine causes disability during attacks
- Migraine causes us to experience a lack of control
- Migraine causes us to attempt to “push through” in spite of the symptoms
- Migraine leads to isolation
- Migraine leads to anxiety
- Migraine leads to frustration/anger
- Migraine leads to guilt
- Migraine leads to mood changes/irritability
- Migraine leads to feelings of depression/hopelessness
Understanding these common issues helps doctors understand which treatments to prioritize, and helps patients to understand that they’re not alone. It also helps family members, friends and caregivers understand just a little of the “size” of migraine – how it truly affects all of life in many different ways. As the common saying goes – it’s not just a headache.
We would love to hear your comments – is there anything you would add or change, based on your personal experience?
Special thanks to Kerrie Smyres at The Daily Headache for pointing this study out. Be sure to check out her blog.