Validation of a new instrument for determining migraine prevalence

Abstract

To provide a reliable instrument for use in large population surveys, we developed a short questionnaire based on existing International Headache Society diagnostic criteria and administered the questionnaire to 50 consecutive patients seeking evaluation at a university-based headache clinic. A single neurologist subsequently examined all patients. Based only on the questionnaires, reviewers scored each patient as having migraine with aura, migraine without aura, or nonmigrainous headache. High predictive validity and low interobserver variability between the examining neurologist and the independent reviewers suggest that the questionnaire may be quite useful as a survey instrument.

The prognosis of childhood abdominal migraine

“…We used the questions asked in our previous population study, designed to elicit the presence or absence of each of these features. To diagnose migraine headaches, we used a previously validated questionnaire16 based on the IHS criteria for migraine.…”

“…There are several sets of criteria for the diagnosis of migraine headache, of which the most widely used is that proposed by the IHS,12 which forms the basis of the widely used UCSD questionnaire 16. In contrast, a constant problem in evaluating the literature on abdominal migraine is the lack of clear diagnostic criteria.…”

The prognosis of cyclical vomiting syndrome

“…At telephone interview, we then enquired about headache and vomiting in the past year. We used a previously validated headache questionnaire23; table 2shows additional questions on cyclical vomiting. In addition to questioning the child, one parent, usually the mother, was consulted to confirm the accuracy of the information.…”

Genetic and Environmental Influences on Migraine: A Twin Study Across Six Countries

“…All twins receive a series of postal questionnaires and around half have been assessed in detail clinically. The UCSD Migraine Questionnaire (Tom et al, 1994) was incorporated in a larger questionnaire asking about a range of conditions. Migraine diagnoses were based on IHS criteria; namely: subject significantly bothered by recurrent (≥ 5) headaches, not due to a definite cause (e.g., tumour); pain free intervals between attacks, and if left untreated, headache would last 4-72 hours.…”