Population-based validation of a German-language self-administered headache questionnaire.
We validated a German-language self-administered headache questionnaire for migraine (M), tension-type headache (TTH) and trigeminal autonomic cephalalgia (TAC) in a general population sample of people with headache. Randomly selected subjects (n = 240) diagnosed by the questionnaire as M (n = 60), TTH (n = 60), a combination of M and TTH (M+TTH, n = 60) and TAC (n = 60) were invited for examination by headache specialists. One hundred and ninety-three subjects (80%) were studied. Sensitivity and specificity for M were 0.85 and 0.85, for TTH 0.6 and 0.88, for M+TTH 0.82 and 0.87, respectively. Cohen's kappa was 0.6 (95% confidence interval 0.50, 0.71). Of 45 patients with TAC according to the questionnaire, physicians diagnosed cluster headache in two patients only. We conclude: (i) the questionnaire can be used to diagnose M, TTH and M+TTH, but not TAC; (ii) screening questionnaires for epidemiological research should be validated in a general population sample but not in a tertiary headache clinic.
Yoon
M-S
MS
Department of Neurology, University of Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, Essen, Germany.
Obermann
M
M
Fritsche
G
G
Slomke
M
M
Dommes
P
P
Schilf
C
C
Diener
H-C
HC
Katsarava
Z
Z
D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006261:Headache / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D015588:Observer Variation; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires