Different personality profiles in patients with cluster headache: a data-driven approach

Introduction Cluster headache (CH) is usually comorbid to mood spectrum disorders, but the psychopathological aspects are poorly explored. We aimed at identifying discrete profiles of personality traits and their association with clinical features. Methods Based on the personality scales of the Mill...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Neurological sciences 2023-08, Vol.44 (8), p.2853-2861
Main Authors: Telesca, Alessandra, Proietti Cecchini, Alberto, Leone, Massimo, Piacentini, Sylvie, Usai, Susanna, Grazzi, Licia, Consonni, Monica
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cluster analysis
Cluster Headache - complications
Comorbidity
Headache
Headaches
Humans
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory
Neurology
Neuroradiology
Neurosciences
Neurosurgery
Original Article
Patients
Personality
Personality Disorders - complications
Principal components analysis
Psychiatry
Psychopathology
Therapeutic applications
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Summary:Introduction Cluster headache (CH) is usually comorbid to mood spectrum disorders, but the psychopathological aspects are poorly explored. We aimed at identifying discrete profiles of personality traits and their association with clinical features. Methods Based on the personality scales of the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-III, principal component analysis (PCA) identified psychological patterns of functioning of 56 CH patients. PCA outcomes were used for hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) for sub-groups classification. Results Eighty-seven percent of patients had personality dysfunctions. PCA found two bipolar patterns: (i) negativistic, sadic-aggressive, borderline, and compulsive traits were distinctive of the psychological dysregulation (PD) dimension, and (ii) narcissistic, histrionic, avoidant, and schizoid traits loaded under the social engagement (SE) component. PD was associated with disease duration and psychopathology. SE was related to educational level and young age. HCA found three groups of patients, and the one with high PD and low SE had the worst psychological profile. Conclusions Personality disorders are common in CH. Our data-driven approach revealed distinct personality patterns which can appear differently among patients. The worst combination arguing against mental health is low SE and high PD. Linking this information with medical history may help clinicians to identify tailored-based therapeutic interventions for CH patients.
ISSN:1590-1874
1590-3478
DOI:10.1007/s10072-023-06713-z