The Mediating Role of Pain Intensity in the Effect of Psychosomatic Components on the Quality of Life of Patients with Migraine Headaches: A Path Analysis Study

Abstract

Aim and Background: Migraine headaches are one of the psychosomatic disorders that severely impair patients' quality of life and general functioning by mediating psychological problems. The aim of this study was to investigate the mediating role of pain intensity in the relationship between psychosomatic components on quality of life in these patients. Methods and Materials: In this cross-sectional study, 250 patients with migraine were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria among people with migraine referred to the Pain and Neurology Clinic affiliated to Isfahan Medical Sciences in 2020 through available sampling. In the appropriate psychological situation, after justifying the goals of the research, the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire (SF-26), Von Korff’s Pain Intensity Scale (PIS) and also the Diagnostic criteria for psychosomatic research Questionnaire (DCPR) were completed. Findings: The results showed that there was no significant correlation between pain intensity and other variables and only psychosomatic components had a significant negative correlation with quality of life dimensions and Also, in the path analysis model, no significant direct and indirect relationship was found between psychosomatic components and pain intensity with different dimensions of quality of life, although the proposed path analysis model showed a good fit. Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest the development of psychological intervention packages based on the explanatory model for the correction of Alexithymia, irritable mood, health anxiety and type A behavior in order to improve the quality of life of migraine patients.

Keywords

• migraine headache
• pain intensity
• dcpr
• type a behavior
• irritable mood
• alexithymia
• health‌ anxiety
• quality of life