Can Anything Good Ever Come From Bearing Migraine Attacks? Suggestions for a Comprehensive Concept of Gain in Migraine

AbstractPurpose of ReviewThe purpose of this review is to summarise the current state of knowledge concerning known types of gain, the reasons why patients might seek it, as well as implications for headache disorders.Recent FindingsEven though the subject has been studied in the past, it received less attention in recent years.SummaryThere is no doubt that migraine is a highly disabling disorder. However, attacks sometimes may be beneficial for the migraine brain as a time-out from the daily routine. On the other hand, patients are often stigmatised as trying to satisfy other needs through their disease. These “other needs” may be the exaggerated seeking for attention and affection or an undue official sickness certificate and were named secondary gain. Striving for secondary gain denotes a behaviour that aims at benefiting from a disease in a way that is seen as inappropriate by others. The fact that the term has persisted in doctors’ vocabulary for decades probably indicates that it designates a concept considered relevant by many. However, its usage is complicated by its usually imprecise definition. We found in a literature search that the strive for secondary gain is not limited to neuros is, might both occur consciously and unconsciously, sometimes may aim at financial gain and sometimes at social gain, and can either be potentially expected or readily obtained. This behaviour mainly seems to aim at shaping one’s interactions with the environment. Its causes ha...
Source: Current Pain and Headache Reports - Category: Neurology Source Type: research