Consultant. Vol. 43 No. 2

How to Quickly Assess Headache-Related Disability

February 1, 2003

You recently diagnosed migraine without aura in a patient who complains of headaches of moderate intensity. Is a migraine-specific prescription agent warranted? A validated tool, such as the Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS) questionnaire, can be used to quantify a patient's level of disability-and thus can help you determine which treatment is most appropriate. The questionnaire can also:

Improve communication about headache-related disability between you and your patient.
Establish a baseline measure to monitor the effectiveness of treatment.¹

The first section of the MIDAS questionnaire (questions 1 to 5) measures the amount of days over a period of 3 months that a patient experiences disability in his or her daily activities. The total number of days is the patient's score, which, when translated to a grade (I to IV), indicates the level of need for care and aggressive treatment. The second section (questions A and B) provides information that is useful in determining headache frequency and attack severity.

Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS) questionnaire

REFERENCE:
1. Stewart WF. The role of disability assessment in migraine management. Drug Benefit Trends. 2002;14(suppl C):13-17.

BLOG FOR CONSULTANTLIVE

Send us your blogs! Contact us for more information if you are interested in writing a post or becoming a blogger.

TOPIC INDEX

Developmental/Genetic

Nutritional/Metabolic

ABOUT OUR BLOGGERS

	On Health and Mental Health Erik R. Vanderlip, MD, is a senior fellow and acting instructor in the University of Washington Department of Psychiatry. As a dually-trained family physician and psychiatrist, Dr Vanderlip is active in national health system redesign efforts with a particular interest in newer models of the medical home. He practices family medicine in a hybrid primary care clinic within a mental health center in Seattle.
	The HIV-AIDS Observer Rodger D. MacArthur, MD, is Professor of Medicine, Wayne State University, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Director and Site Principal Investigator, Wayne State University HIV/AIDS Clinical Research Unit.
	Speaking of Pain Steven A. King, MD, MS, is in the private practice of pain medicine in New York, and he is Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the New York University School of Medicine, New York.
	Tales Doctors Tell David T Nash, MD, is Clinical Professor of Medicine at Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse, New York. The author of more than 250 peer-reviewed clinical articles, Dr Nash has practiced cardiology in Syracuse for over 50 years. He is a Fellow of the National Lipid Association.
	Primary Care Matters Gregory W. Rutecki, MD, is Professor of Medicine at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine in Mobile. He is section editor of the hypertension topic center on this web site.
	Practice Makes Perfect Pamela Wible, MD, pioneered the first community-designed ideal medical clinic in America. An expert in patient-centered care, Dr Wible helps citizens design cutting-edge clinics and hospitals nationwide. Her model is taught in medical schools and featured in Harvard School of Public Health's newest edition of Renegotiating Health Care. Dr. Wible is a medical reporter for the Oregonian, has been interviewed by CNN, ABC, CBS, and is a frequent guest on NPR.

FROM PHYSICIANS PRACTICE

Primary Care Can't Thrive Without Nurse Practitioners
Courtney H. Lyder, ND, May 17, 2013
With a projected shortfall of primary-care physicians, it's time for alternate solutions to patient care. Nurse practitioners are one logical remedy.

VWhat Physicians Can Learn from the Allscripts EHR Lawsuit
Marisa Torrieri, May 16, 2013
Lawsuit prompts question: What should physicians do to ensure they end up with a great EHR instead of buyer’s remorse?

Eight Ways ICD-9 Will Still Matter to Medical Practices
Brenda Edwards, CPC, May 15, 2013
What should your medical practice do with your ICD-9-CM book after October 1, 2014? Keep it.

Seven Ways Technology Can Speed Up Patient Collections
Cheyenne Brinson, May 15, 2013
Failing to adopt widely available billing and collections technology can cost medical practices big. Here's how to do it right.

Four Reasons Private Medical Practice is Becoming Extinct
Carol Stryker, May 15, 2013
It’s becoming increasingly difficult for private medical practices to thrive. Here’s what’s driving the trend toward consolidation.

How to Quickly Assess Headache-Related Disability

Join the Conversation