Exploring Emotional Distress, Psychological Traits and Attitudes in Patients with Chronic Migraine Undergoing OnabotulinumtoxinA Prophylaxis versus Withdrawal Treatment

Donisi, Valeria; Mazzi, Maria Angela; Gandolfi, Marialuisa; Deledda, Giuseppe; Marchioretto, Fabio; Battista, Simone; Poli, Sara; Giansante, Matteo; Geccherle, Eleonora; Perlini, Cinzia; Smania, Nicola; Del Piccolo, Lidia

doi:10.3390/toxins12090577

Exploring Emotional Distress, Psychological Traits and Attitudes in Patients with Chronic Migraine Undergoing OnabotulinumtoxinA Prophylaxis versus Withdrawal Treatment

Donisi, Valeria; Mazzi, Maria Angela; Gandolfi, Marialuisa; Deledda, Giuseppe; Marchioretto, Fabio; Battista, Simone; Poli, Sara; Giansante, Matteo; Geccherle, Eleonora; Perlini, Cinzia; Smania, Nicola; Del Piccolo, Lidia

Authors

Valeria Donisi

Maria Angela Mazzi

Marialuisa Gandolfi

Giuseppe Deledda

Fabio Marchioretto

Dr Simone Battista S.Battista@salford.ac.uk
Research Fellow

Sara Poli

Matteo Giansante

Eleonora Geccherle

Cinzia Perlini

Nicola Smania

Lidia Del Piccolo

Abstract

This explorative cross-sectional study aims at exploring emotional distress, psychological profiles, and the attitude towards receiving psychological support in eighty-seven patients with chronic migraine (CM) undergoing OnabotulinumtoxinA prophylactic treatment (OBT-A, n = 40) or withdrawal treatment (WT, n = 47). The outcomes were explored through a specific battery of questionnaires. 25% of patients undergoing OBT-A and almost half of the patients undergoing WT reported psychological distress of at least moderate-severe level, respectively. Coping strategies, self-efficacy, and perceived social support were similar in the two groups. Patients undergoing OBT-A presented lower psychological inflexibility than patients undergoing WT. Predictors of higher psychological distress were low perceived social support by friends, low self-efficacy, and higher avoidance strategies. In both groups, most of the patients evaluated receiving psychological support to be useful (79%). The potential beneficial effects of OBT-A on the severity of symptoms and psychological distress might further support its role in the multidisciplinary management of patients with CM. Identifying patients with psychological vulnerabilities who may benefit from psychological support is relevant in patients with CM.

Journal Article Type	Article
Acceptance Date	Sep 2, 2020
Online Publication Date	Sep 8, 2020
Deposit Date	Feb 20, 2024
Publicly Available Date	Feb 23, 2024
Journal	Toxins
Electronic ISSN	2072-6651
Publisher	MDPI
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Volume	12
Issue	9
Pages	577
DOI	https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins12090577
Keywords	Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis; Toxicology