Presentation (CTI)

OBJECTIVES: Migraine substantially impairs patient functioning and quality of life (QoL), with greater disruption observed at higher attack frequencies and in chronic migraine. Standardized definitions of burden, impact, disability, and migraine‑impacted QoL highlight its multidimensional effects. Although migraine influences family and social functioning, caregiver impacts remain poorly defined in existing frameworks. This study aims to synthesize evidence on caregiver burden (CB) and develop a literature‑based conceptual model.
METHODS: A targeted PubMed literature review identified qualitative and quantitative studies and reviews (2001-2026) reporting CB in migraine. Concepts from eligible full‑text articles were extracted, coded, and thematically grouped using a team‑based iterative approach, which informed development of a preliminary caregiver-inclusive conceptual model.
RESULTS: From a field of 104 publications, a total of six studies were identified that explicitly or indirectly described caregiver‑relevant outcomes. Key CB domains included: emotional strain; role disruption; lacking social and societal support; economic burden; and reduced household productivity. From the studies included in this review, no distinction was made between the burdens experienced by caregivers of patients with episodic vs. chronic migraine, though both populations were represented. Dyadic interactions between severity of patient symptoms and caregiver wellbeing were captured as part of this review. In one study, the majority of caregivers reported that their relationship would be better without migraine, and a third reported greater conflict in their relationship because of the condition. In a separate publication, improvements in patients’ migraine symptoms resulted in improved reciprocity within the dyad, and reduced levels of relationship-specific stress. These findings informed a multi‑layer conceptual model that integrates patient‑level burden, caregiver‑level burden, and shared relational pathways.
CONCLUSIONS: This review and conceptual model synthesize current patient- and caregiver-reported evidence on CB reported in the family caregiver-patient migraine dyad, and highlights the need for further research in this field.