Illness Perception and Job Satisfaction in Patients Suffering from Migraine Headaches: Trait Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms as Potential Mediators.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Migraine headache is the seventh leading cause of disability worldwide causing adverse outcomes in many aspects of an individual's life. Many psychological aspects affect chronic migraine (CM): illness perception, anxiety, depressive symptoms, and job satisfaction. This observational study aimed to examine the association among illness perception, anxiety, depressive symptoms, and job satisfaction, connected to migraine and its features.

METHODS: Ninety-eight individuals with CM treated with OnabotulinumtoxinA were recruited from the Regional Referral Headache Centre of Sant'Andrea Hospital in Rome. They completed 4 questionnaires (Brief Illness Perception Quality of Life, Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory-II) and a socio-anamnestic form.

RESULTS: This cross-sectional study examined 2 mediational models. The first one demonstrated an indirect mediating effect of trait anxiety on the association between illness perception and job satisfaction (ab = -0.217, 95% CI [-0.37, -0.09]). In the second model, depressive symptoms mediated the association between illness perception and job satisfaction (ab = -0.186, 95% CI [-0.33, -0.04]).

CONCLUSIONS: In our study, levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms showed a mediational effect on the association between illness perception and job fulfillment. It is important to develop interventions aimed at improving the quality of life of individuals with CM and to increase knowledge about headache and psychological consequences.