Pain Locus of Control in Migraine Headache Patients

Abstract

Pain locus of control (PLOC) refers to beliefs to pain control and management, and incorporates the same constructs of internality and externality. It refers to the degree of control individuals believe they have over their pain experience and encompasses three dimensions: internality, powerful others and chance. This study investigated the association of pain locus of control with migraine headache. Sample consisted of 50 male and 50 female migraine patients of the age range of 20 to 45 years, diagnosed by the neurologists, minimum education high school and suffering from migraine headache at least for the preceding one year period. Another group of 50 male and 50 female controls of the same age range and education was also included in the sample. Hindi Adaptation of Pain Locus of Control Scale (Kumar, 2000) was administered to these groups individually. It was found that migraine patients are externally controlled and the experience of pain in migraine patients is governed more by powerful others as compared to the control group.