When does empathy help? Patient-perceived physician empathy and migraine severity.

Migraine is a leading cause of disability worldwide. This research explored the link between patient-perceived physician empathy and migraine severity. Two studies involved 131 migraine patients, with various symptoms documented over four weeks. Participants kept diaries detailing headache occurrences, intensity, and related disabilities. They also completed the Migraine Disability Assessment and the Consultation and Relational Empathy Measure. Surprisingly, higher empathy perceptions were linked with greater migraine-related disability and frequency. Patients with severe symptoms received more support from physicians, suggesting possible biases in treatment. This pattern may reflect how migraine patients are often dismissed unless they report severe symptoms. The findings propose that physicians should focus on patients' coping strategies and strengths. However, these suggestions need further verification before becoming clinical recommendations. Understanding this relationship may help improve patient care and treatment approaches for migraine sufferers, particularly in Poland, where dismissive attitudes may exist. Clinical relevance: This research implies that physician empathy may influence migraine patients' experiences and treatment.