PERSONALITY TRAITS AND MEDICATION ADHERENCE IN PATIENTS WITH MIGRAINE: A NON-SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Abstract

Introduction: Treatment non-adherence is a highly recognized reason of efficacy failure of medical
treatments. Causes of non-adherence in chronic migraine treatment may include personality traits. Studies
of personality traits may help in individualizing our treatment plans. Methods: An electronic search in the
National Center for Biotechnological Information’s National Library of Medicine. All relevant results were
to be selected for presentation and critical discussion. Results: The search for studies of any type using all
three keywords < (personality traits) AND headache AND (adherence OR compliance)> that was performed
on May 23, 2024 retrieved 5 hits, of which 3 were considered relevant to our question. Discussion: The
retrieval rate of studies specifically relevant to our clinical question was very low, however some raw
assumptions can be made and possible future approaches can be suggested. Investigating personality
traits that correlate with adherence to prophylactic treatment for migraines is a complex endeavor
as revealed in the low volume of related research. It certainly can be approached from several angles;
psychological, demographic, or neurophysiological. Conclusion: Much more relevant and interdisciplinary
research regarding understanding and management of the highly burdensome problem of non-adherence
to migraine prophylactic treatments is urgently needed.