Reduced impact of migraine in everyday life: an observational study in the Dutch Society of Headache Patients.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the percentage of patients who report a reduced impact of migraine on their life, and to which factors this improvement can be attributed.


METHODS
Four hundred forty-eight members of the Dutch Society of Headache Patients answered a set of structured questionnaires, including the Migraine-Specific Quality of Life instrument (MSQOL).


RESULTS
Of this group, 70% reported a reduced impact of migraine. The most frequently reported reason for this reduction was a change in medication (77%); in particular, change to a triptan. Other favorable factors included a change in life-style (56%): 42% of patients reported more relaxed coping with migraine, a reduction of stress in general (28%) and of stress related to work (24%), and leading a more regular life-style (21%). In addition, social support was frequently mentioned, particularly that offered by the Dutch Society of Headache Patients (58%), family (46%), and their general practitioner (28%). The patients who reported a reduced impact of migraine had less migraine attacks and a higher quality of life than those who did not report such a reduction.


CONCLUSIONS
The results confirm that factors that are proven effective in clinical trials on migraine also have these effects outside a formal experimental environment.
Vos
J
J
Department of Medical Psychology and Psychotherapy, NIHES, Erasmus MC Rotterdam, 3000 DR Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Passchier
J
J
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D009426:Netherlands; D011788:Quality of Life; D011897:Random Allocation; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists