Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is characterized by pervasive instability in moods, impulsivity, intense and unstable or disturbed interpersonal relationships and self-image, and often self-destructive behaviour. BPD seems to be more common in patients suffering from migraine. However, typical migraine characteristics in this population remain partly unknown.

To present the specific clinical characteristics of migraine patients with BPD and to assess their response to migraine treatment.

We examined 10 patients with migraine and previously diagnosed with BPD (group 1), 10 patients with migraine and no history of BPD (group 2), and 10 patients with migraine and no history of BPD matched to group 1 for age, gender, and frequency of headache. Migraine was treated in group 1 and 3 and pharmacological treatment outcome was assessed after 6 months.

The group of migraine patients with coexisting PBD was associated with female gender, increased prevalence of medication overuse headache, higher rates of self-reported depression, increased migraine-related disability, and a decreased response to pharmacological migraine treatment.

Patients with migraine and previously diagnosed BPD can be regarded as a distinct population. They are more suffering from depressive symptoms, more disabled by their migraine, are more resistant to pharmacological treatment.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.