Dx Chronic Migraine

Posted on Oct 26, 2011 in OnDemand | 0 comments

Making A Valid Diagnosis of Chronic Migraine

Program Overview

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 suggest 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.

Learning Objectives

After completing this activity, the participant should be better able to

1. Identify and utilize specific diagnostic criteria for chronic migraine
2. Improve communication with patients through individualized collaborative interviewing
3. Construct a model to coordinate the dynamic process of migraine chronification with the therapeutic needs of the patient

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