Personality profile and depression in migraine: a meta-analysis

Despite the clinical importance of psychological factors in migraine, the relationship between personality traits, depression, and migraine has been poorly investigated. To delineate the personality profile distinctive for migraineurs and to explore the relationship between personality traits and depression in migraineurs compared to non-migraineurs. A systematic literature search was performed up to March 2019 using PsycInfo (PROQUEST), PubMed and Scopus. Sixteen primary studies met inclusion and exclusion criteria and were included in the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis on the personality defined according to Psychobiological model revealed high Harm Avoidance (Hedges’g = 0.31; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.01–0.60), Persistence (Hedges’g = 0.37; 95% CI = 0.01to − 0.72) and low self-directedness (Hedges’g = − 0.33; 95% CI = −0.57 to − 0.09) in migraineurs. The meta-analysis on the personality defined according to Three Factor Model revealed high neuroticism (Hedges’g = 0.47; 95% CI = 0.32–0.63) and low extraversion (Hedges’g = − 0.08; 95% CI = − 0.14 to − 0.03) in migraineurs. Meta-regression analysis revealed that neuroticism moderated the relationship between depression and migraine. The findings evidenced that migraine is characterized by specific personality traits. Among them, neuroticism influenced the severity of depression in migraineurs, and, therefore, an early evaluation of the personality traits could allow identifying patients susceptible to develop migraine-associated psychopathological symptoms.