The use of MIDAS in patients with chronic migraine and medication-overuse headache: should we trust it?

Excerpt

The Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS) is one of the most frequently used assessment instruments for migraine and for other headache disorders [1]. It is composed of seven questions referred to the preceding 3 months. The first five investigate the influence of headache in different domains and patients have to refer the number of days in which they were completely unable to carry out paid and schoolwork activities (question 1) or limited in more than half of their ability (question 2); completely unable to carry out household work (question 3), or limited in more than half of their ability (question 4); finally, the number of days in which headaches had an impact over leisure activities with family or in social situations. The last two questions investigate the total number of days with migraine attacks and the mean pain intensity. The MIDAS score is the sum of responses to questions 1–5 and, accordingly, four severity grades are available: minimal (0–5), mild (6–10), moderate (11–20), and severe (> 21) disability. …