Exploring the Impact of Personality Traits on Response to Anti-CGRP Therapies: Insights from a Pilot Study

Monoclonal antibodies targeting the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) pathway represent an effective preventive treatment for chronic migraine, including in patients with multiple prior therapeutic failures. However, a substantial proportion of patients exhibit a suboptimal or delayed response. The role of personality traits in modulating treatment response remains poorly understood.

In this prospective observational study, adults with chronic migraine received anti-CGRP monoclonal antibodies and were followed for 12 months. Monthly headache days (MHDs), monthly acute medication use (MAM), and disability scores (MIDAS and HIT-6) were recorded at baseline and at 3, 6, and 12 months. Responders were defined as patients achieving a ≥50% reduction in monthly headache days (MHDs) compared with baseline. Changes in disability measures were evaluated as secondary clinical outcomes. Personality traits were assessed using the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-III.

Thirty-eight patients were included, of whom 71% had medication overuse headaches. Responder rates increased over time (31.6% at 3 months and 39.5% at 12 months). Histrionic traits (37.5% vs. 6.7%, p = 0.048) and dysthymic features (21.4% vs. 0%, p = 0.046) were significantly more prevalent among non-responders.

Histrionic and dysthymic personality features were associated with a lower likelihood of response to anti-CGRP therapy in patients with chronic migraine. Given the exploratory design, limited sample size, and absence of correction for multiple comparisons, these findings should be considered preliminary and hypothesis-generating. Further studies in larger cohorts are needed to confirm these observations.