Internal stigmatization in patients with chronic migraine and medication overuse headache
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 30, 2025

3D-Neuronavigation In Vivo Through a Patient's Brain During a Spontaneous Migraine Headache
Published on: June 2, 2014
Firdevs Ezgi Uçan Tokuç1, Eylem Özaydın Göksu2, Şennur Delibaş Katı2
1Republic of Turkey Ministry of Health Antalya Provincial Health Directorate, Neurology department, University of Health Sciences Antalya Training and Research Hospital, Antalya, Turkey. ezgiucan@gmail.com.
Objectives:
Internalized stigma can have profound effects on how individuals with migraines and other primary headache disorders see themselves and their quality of life. We aimed to investigate internalized stigma in patients with chronic migraines and medication overuse headaches.
Methods:
A total of 57 patients (52 women, 5 men) were included in the study, 26 of these patients were affected by chronic migraine, 31 of them were affected by medication overuse headache and chronic migraine. The Internalized Stigma Scale in Mental Illness (Ristsher's stigmatization scale) and General Health Questionnaire were applied to all patients.
Results:
In Ristsher's stigmatization scale, which measures internalization of stigma, internalized stigmatization was more significant in patients with medication overuse headache than in patients with chronic migraine compared to groups (p:0.05). The subtitle of alienation was statistically significant when the groups were compared to all subscales in the form of alienation, confirmation of stereotypes, perceived discrimination, social withdrawal and resistance to stigma (p:0.05).
Discussion:
Although internal stigmatize has been observed in chronic migraine patients, medication overuse headache is also a type of headache with intense stigma. In addition, this internal stigma perhaps plays an active role in the transformation of chronic migraine patients to medication overuse headaches patient.
Related Concept Videos
Stress and Mental Health
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...
Depressive Disorders: MDD and Dysthymia
Prescription, Nonprescription and Orphan Drugs
The misuse and addiction to prescription drugs is a growing problem that can affect people of all age groups, specifically teenagers. This can happen when prescription medications are used in ways not intended by the prescriber, such as taking someone else's prescription or using medication for...
Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents
Analgesia and Pain Management

