Assessing attack‐related fear in headache disorders—Structure and psychometric properties of the Fear of Attacks in Migraine Inventory
Timo Klan, Anne‐Kathrin Bräscher, Silja Klein, Anke Diezemann‐Prößdorf, Anna‐Lena Guth, Charly Gaul, Michael Witthöft
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to develop a self-report questionnaire for the assessment of attack-related fear in migraine, and to determine its factor structure as well as its psychometric properties by the primary analysis of a cross-sectional survey's data. BACKGROUND: High fear of attacks in migraine increases the burden of disease and is assumed to have a negative impact on the course of the disease. Little is known about the structure and dimensionality of attack-related fear, and a valid instrument for the comprehensive assessment is lacking. METHODS: Based on a literature search and interviews with persons with migraine as well as with experienced practitioners, a 46-item self-report questionnaire, the Fear of Attacks in Migraine Inventory (FAMI) was developed. A cross-sectional online survey comprising an assessment of diagnostic criteria of migraine and a battery of questionnaires including the FAMI was conducted (N = 387 persons with migraine, 364/387 [94.1%] women, M = 40.9 [SD = 13.1] years, migraine without aura: 153/387 [39.5%], migraine with aura: 85/387 [22.0%], and chronic migraine: 149/387 [38.5%]). RESULTS: /df = 3.55, RMSEA = 0.085, SRMR = 0.073, CFI = 0.98, and TLI = 0.97). Reliability was good (fear-avoidance, ω = 0.85; attention and anticipation, ω = 0.88) to excellent (fear of negative consequences, ω = 0.91). Correlational analyses confirmed the convergent validity of the FAMI. CONCLUSIONS: The FAMI appears suitable and promising for the assessment of attack-related fear in migraine research and clinical care.