AUTHOR=Karakurum-Goksel Basak , Ocal Ruhsen , Van Mert , Coskun Ozlem , Karaaslan Cihad , Ucler Serap , Gokcay Figen , Celebisoy Nese , Sirin Hadiye , Kisabay-Ak Aysin , Saritas Aysegul Seyma , Cerrahoglu-Sirin Tuba , Hasirci-Bayir Buse Rahime , Ekizoglu Esme , Kocasoy-Orhan Elif , Bayram Derya , Tanik Nermin , Bicakci Sebnem , Ozturk Vesile , Inan Levent Ertugrul , Mehel Metin Kubra , Eren Yasemin , Dora Babur , Oguz-Akarsu Emel , Karli Necdet , Ur-Ozcelik Emel , Atalar Arife Cimen , Gozubatik-Celik Rabia Gokcen , Mutluay Belgin , Ilgaz-Aydınlar Elif , Yalinay Dikmen Pinar , Semercioglu Sencer , Emre Ufuk , Buldukoglu Osman Cagin , Er Busra , Kilboz Bekir Burak , Ibis Seray , Yagiz Sibgetullah , Koklu Huzeyfe , Kamaci Ibrahim , Aliyeva Gulshan , Ates Basak Elcin , Kara Muge Mercan , Altunc Fatma Zehra , Kaya Ilgin , Sisman Cagla , Ozkan Secil 

TITLE=Self-esteem and self-compassion status of migraine patients in Turkey: a multi-center study by Turkish Headache Study Group

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neurology

VOLUME=Volume 16 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1566423

DOI=10.3389/fneur.2025.1566423

ISSN=1664-2295

ABSTRACT=IntroductionMigraine, characterized by recurrent attacks, often necessitates a holistic approach for effective management. Treatment strategies aimed at enhancing self-esteem and self-compassion have been shown to reduce pain intensity in patients with chronic pain. This study aimed to investigate self-esteem and self-compassion in individuals with migraine.Materials and methodsThis multicentre, cross-sectional, case–control study included migraine patients evaluated at headache-specialized outpatient clinics across 22 centers in different regions of Turkey. 901 migraine patients and 901 healthy, matched controls were included. Neurologists specializing in headache disorders administered the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Self-Compassion Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, and Beck Anxiety Inventory to all participants. Data were compiled at a central site and subjected to statistical analysis.ResultsMigraine patients exhibited significantly lower self-esteem scores compared to healthy controls (p = 0.001 for both). Additionally, Beck Depression Inventory and Beck Anxiety Inventory scores were significantly higher in migraine patients (p = 0.001 for both). Although the mean self-compassion scores of migraine patients and healthy controls were comparable, a significant decline in self-compassion was observed among patients with higher migraine attack frequency.DiscussionIn conclusion, our findings indicate that migraine patients exhibit significantly higher levels of anxiety and depression compared to healthy controls. Self-esteem scores were also found to be lower in the migraine group. Although self-compassion scores were similar between the two groups, a noteworthy decline in self-compassion was observed in patients with higher migraine attack frequency. These results suggest that increased migraine severity may negatively impact patients’ emotional resilience, highlighting the potential value of integrating psychological support into migraine management, particularly for those with frequent attacks.