Existential concerns and fear of recurrence or progression in people with migraine

The current study examined the relevance and potential associations between fear of recurrence or progression (FRP) and existential concerns (i.e. death anxiety, meaninglessness, isolation, identity, and guilt) in the context of migraine. Cross-sectional survey data was obtained from 522 people with a self-reported migraine diagnosis (94% female; M_age = 42.79 years), who completed a number of online questionnaires assessing FRP, existential concerns, disability, pain, and mental health symptoms. The results revealed significant positive correlations between all five existential concern domains and FRP. Notably, the associations between each existential concern and FRP remained significant after controlling for physical symptoms (i.e. disability and pain) and psychopathology (i.e. depression, anxiety, and stress). Further, the relationship between disability and FRP was partially mediated by overall existential concerns. These findings emphasise the need to consider existential concerns in the conceptualisation and treatment of FRP in people with migraine, paving the way for future intervention research.