Relationship between pain activity patterns, and physical and psychological aspects and sleep quality in women with migraine

Migraine can cause different pain activity patterns. This cross-sectional study examines the relationship between pain activity patterns and physical and psychological aspects and sleep quality in women with migraine. Women diagnosed with migraine (n = 129) were reached through social media and announcements. Outcome measures were Pattern of Activity Measure-Pain (POAM-P) (avoidance, overdoing, pacing), Migraine Disability Assessment Scale (MIDAS), International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF), Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). While there was a negative correlation between the POAMP-avoidance and the IPAQ-SF rho = −0.178), there were positive correlations between the POAMP-avoidance and the MIDAS (rho = 0.454), the DASS-21-depression (rho = 0.413), the DASS-21-anxiety (rho = 0.321), and the DASS-21-stress (rho = 0.446). There were positive correlations between the POAMP-overdoing, and the DASS-21-depression (rho = 0.229), the DASS-21-stress (rho = 0.207), and the PSQI (rho = 0.217). There were also positive correlations between the POAMP-pacing and the MIDAS (rho = 0.283), the DASS-21-depression (rho = 0.250), and the DASS-21-anxiety (rho = 0.213) (p <.05). Pain activity patterns in women with migraines were associated with their disability, physical activity, psychological state, and sleep quality. Determining treatment based on pain activity patterns can improve migraine treatment outcomes.