The Role of Attachment Style, Adverse Childhood Experiences and Dissociation in Migraine
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Date
2021-10-27
Authors
Mays, Iain
Flynn, Jack
McGuire, Brian
Egan, Jonathan
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Taylor & Francis Group
Abstract
Migraine and chronic migraine are caused by a combination
of modifiable and non-modifiable genetic, social,
behavioral and environmental risk factors. Further research
of possible modifiable risk factors for this headache disorder
is merited, given its role as one of the leading causes
of years lived with disability per year. The first aim of this
online cross-sectional study was to investigate the psychosocial
risk factors that predicted chronic migraine and
severe migraine-related disability in 507 Irish and UK participants,
focusing specifically on childhood maltreatment,
attachment and tendency to dissociate, or experience
depressed mood and/or anxiety. Additionally, this study
aimed to examine variables that mediated the relationships
between these psychosocial risk factors and migraine
chronicity or severe migraine-related disability. Adjusted
binary logistic regression revealed that shutdown dissociation
(Odds Ratio [OR] 4.57, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]
2.66–7.85) and severe physical abuse (OR 4.30, 95% CI
1.44–12.83 had significant odds of predicting migraine
chronicity, while depression (OR 3.28, 95% CI 1.86–5.77)
significantly predicted severe migraine-related disability.
Mediation analyses indicated that shutdown dissociation
mediated the relationship between seven predictor variables
and both chronicity and severe disability including
possible predisposing factors emotional abuse, physical
neglect, avoidant attachment and anxious attachment.
These findings suggest that early life stressors (such as
childhood trauma and avoidant attachment style), shutdown
dissociation and depression may impact on migraine
trajectory. To investigate whether these psychosocial factors
are risk factors for migraine chronicity or disability,
prospective research should be conducted in this area to
account for fluctuations in migraine chronicity over time.
Description
35 pages
Keywords
attachment, childhood trauma questionnaire, dissociation, migraine
Citation
Iain Mays, Jack Flynn, Brian McGuire & Jonathan Egan (2022) The Role of Attachment Style, Adverse Childhood Experiences and Dissociation in Migraine, Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, 23:3, 245-278, DOI: 10.1080/15299732.2021.1989114