Comparison of Perfectionism, Aggression and Coping Styles in Patients with Migraine and Tension-Type Headaches and Healthy Individuals

The aim of this study was to the compare perfectionism, aggression and coping styles in patients with migraine and tension-type headache and healthy individuals. In this casual-comparative method study, the studied sample consisted of 42 patients with tension-type headache diagnosis, 40 patients with migraine headache selected among those referred to medical centers and mental hospitals in Ardabil, Iran, and 41 healthy individuals matched with the other two groups according to gender and educational level. The Perfectionism scale, Aggression scale, and Stress Coping Styles scale were used. In addition, the intensity and frequency indexes were collected. Data were analyzed using multivariable analysis of variance (MANOVA). There were significant differences in perfectionism, aggression, and cognitive-avoidance coping style mean scores between both the patients with migraine and tension-type headaches with healthy individuals. No significant differences were observed between three groups in behavioral coping style scores. Maladaptive perfectionism, aggression and dysfunctional coping styles are associated with the severity of migraine and tension-type headaches. These results have important implications in explaining the role of personality variables in headaches.