Chronic Migraine Dx
Chronic Migraine: Making the Diagnosis
CME Information
Learning Objectives:
After participating in this educational activity, participants should be able to
- Identify the specific diagnostic criteria for chronic migraine
- Demonstrate collaborative interview techniques for assessing patients with chronic migraine
- Develop a management approach that matches the needs of the patients with chronic migraine
The diagnosis of “chronic migraine” is a newly established diagnosis. Although descriptors of chronic migraine have been reported in medical literature for decades, it recently (2004; 2006) has become a codeable diagnosis rather than an adjective to describe “really bad migraine.” A genetically linked primary headache disorder, chronic migraine causes more disability and negative effects on the sufferer’s quality of life than does episodic migraine.
Communication between the patient and clinician is the only diagnostic tool for migraine. Unfortunately, this communication is often directed by the healthcare professional and revolves around specific symptoms rather than an understanding of the frequency of migraine and burden of the disease. Recent research suggests that a collaborative communication style improves diagnostic and therapeutic alignment between patient and provider by promoting a multidimensional understanding of migraine. In turn, there is documented improvement in time efficiency, patient outcomes, and treatment satisfaction.
The dynamic evolution of migraine necessitates that the clinician links the severity of migraine with various evidence-based treatment strategies. This understanding helps develop individualized care for the patient with migraine.
This activity will examine the criterion for chronic migraine diagnosis, help the clinician construct a model of migraine as a dynamic process, and develop strategies for effective and efficient communication skills for identifying patients with migraine.
Published on September 20, 2011
I participated in the cme for migraine, completed and emailed certificate to my email but didn’t receive it?
Primary Care Network will resend your certificate for this activity by the end of today. There are occasions that your email will refer it to your junk folder, so please check there if you do not see it in your inbox.