CATASTROPHIC PERCEPTION OF PAIN IN MIGRAINE PATIENTS AND ITS CORRECTION VIA COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL THERAPY

This article addresses pain catastrophizing, a widespread psychological phenomenon among migraine patients, and its correction through cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), drawing on international literature and the authors' own clinical observations. Clinical-psychological interviews were conducted with 37 patients (13 men, 24 women) diagnosed with migraine; session notes were analyzed through qualitative content analysis and coded according to the three components of catastrophizing — magnification, helplessness, and rumination. Magnification predominated in both sexes, while rumination was also notably present among female patients. A subset of patients (24 women) additionally received 6 weeks of work incorporating CBT elements, after which patients reported a reduction in catastrophic-thinking symptoms and overall improvement in their condition. These descriptive findings may serve as a basis for future standardized research.