Validating the Migraine-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire v2.1 (MSQ) in Italian inpatients with chronic migraine with a history of medication overuse

Validity, reliability, and sensitivity to change of the Arabic version of the Migraine-Specific Quality-of-Life Questionnaire after prophylactic treatment

BACKGROUND

The Migraine-Specific Quality-of-Life Questionnaire version 2.1 (MSQ 2.1) is one of the most frequently used tools in assessing the impact of migraine in clinical practice and in migraine research. This work aimed to examine the reliability and validity of the Arabic version of the MSQ 2.1 in Arabic-speaking patients with migraine and to assess its ability to detect subtle changes in quality of life after receiving prophylactic migraine medications.

METHODS

This multicenter prospective observational study was conducted with 140 patients experiencing migraine and indicated for prophylactic medications. Headache assessment was done at baseline and 3 months after receiving prophylactic medications using the Arabic version of MSQ 2.1, Headache Impact Test (HIT-6), and visual analog scale (VAS). The MSQ 2.1 was repeated 1 week after the first visit to a group of patients (n = 70) to assess test-retest reliability.

RESULTS

Cronbach's alpha for the MSQ 2.1 was 0.973, indicating excellent internal consistency. The intraclass correlation coefficient (average measure) was 0.99, indicating excellent test-retest reliability. There were statistically significant correlations between the MSQ 2.1 total score and monthly migraine days, VAS, and HIT-6 scores before and 3 months after prophylactic medications. The receiver operating characteristic curve revealed that an increase of 8.5 in the total score of the MSQ 2.1 represents the minimally important change that means significant improvement (area under the curve = 0.785, sensitivity = 0.861, specificity = 0.656, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The Arabic version of the MSQ 2.1 is a valid, reliable, and sensitive tool that can precisely assess the impact of migraine on quality of life.

Multimodal digital health treatments for Chronic Migraine associated with Medication Overuse Headache: a literature appraisal and results of a single-arm open trial (the BE-HOME program)

BACKGROUND

Mindfulness-based treatments gained popularity for migraine treatment. In this manuscript we report the results of a single-arm open pilot study that evaluated the impact of a multimodal web-based intervention combining home-based medication withdrawal, patients' education, and online mindfulness-based interventions. We aimed to address whether our program had the ability to show a change in the observed parameters and the study should therefore be intended as an early phase trial.

METHODS

Consecutive patients with chronic migraine associated with medication overuse headache were enrolled, followed-up for 12 months, in a program that included home-based medication withdrawal, education on the correct use of drugs and lifestyle issues, prescription of tailored pharmacological prophylaxis, and attendance to six online mindfulness-based sessions. We tested the effect of the program on improving headache frequency, medication intake, quality of life (QoL), headache impact, depression, self-efficacy, and pain catastrophizing.

RESULTS

A total of 37 patients completed the study (10 dropped out). We observed a large improvement in headache frequency, medication intake, headache impact, and QoL, a moderate improvement in pain catastrophizing and a mild improvement in depression symptoms; 70% to 76% of patients achieved 50% or more reduction in headache frequency from baseline to each follow-up (p < .01).

CONCLUSIONS

The results of our multimodal program showed significant improvements in headache frequency, medication intake, and patient-reported outcomes. Future studies are needed to better identify patients who might benefit most from Digital Health Interventions and to demonstrate at least an equivalence in outcome with in-person programs carried out in hospital settings.

Validity and reliability of the Greek Migraine-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (MSQ Version 2.1-GR)

BACKGROUND

To assess the validity and reliability of the Migraine-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire 2.1 (MSQv.2.1) in a group of Greek migraineurs.

DESIGN-SAMPLE-METHODS

The Greek version of MSQv.2.1 (MSQv.2.1-GR), a self-report measure with 14 items in 3 domains (Role Restrictive (RR), Role Preventive (RP) and Emotional Function (EF)), was administered during a cross-sectional study to 141 Greek adult migraineurs and 135 controls without migraine or any other primary headache disorder, along with Migraine Disability Assessment Scale (MIDAS) and Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) to assess validity. MSQv.2.1-GR was re-administered in a group of participants with migraine two weeks afterwards to assess reliability. Content and construct validity was assessed using Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC), Spearman rho, McDonald's omega, Cronbach's alpha. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to test the latent structure of the MSQv.2.1-GR in migraineurs.

RESULTS

A total of 276 adults participated in the study. Internal consistency of the three MSQv.2.1-GR scales RR, RP and EF yielded a range of McDonald's omega from 0.832 to 0.923 (Cronbach's alpha from 0.814 to 0.923). CFA confirmed the proposed three-factor MSQv.2.1-GR latent structure with acceptable goodness of fit indices and factor loadings. Correlations were established between MSQv2.1-GR component and MIDAS scores, showing moderate and statistically significant relationships (from - 0.519 to -0.562, all p < 0.001) for RR, RP and EF. Correlations between MSQv2.1-GR and SF-12 component scores were identified, with values from 0.1 to 0.4, indicating low to moderate associations. ICC was calculated at 0.997, indicating a high level of reliability between the measures. Notably, all MSQv2.1-GR scores (RR, RP, EF) were significantly higher in the controls compared to migraineurs (p < 0.001 for all scales). These findings suggest that MSQv2.1-GR is internally consistent, shows significant correlations with relevant measures, and is effective in discriminating controls from migraineurs.

CONCLUSION

MSQv2.1-GR is a valid and reliable tool to determine the effect migraine has on the quality of life of Greek-speaking migraineurs.

Efficacy of mindfulness added to treatment as usual in patients with chronic migraine and medication overuse headache: a phase-III single-blind randomized-controlled trial (the MIND-CM study)

BACKGROUND

Mindfulness gained considerable attention for migraine management, but RCTs are lacking. We aimed to assess the efficacy of a six-sessions mindfulness-based treatment added to treatment as usual (TaU) in patients with Chronic Migraine (CM) and Medication Overuse Headache (MOH) on headache frequency, medication intake, quality of life, disability, depression and anxiety, cutaneous allodynia, awareness of inner states, work-related difficulties, and disease cost.

METHODS

In this Phase-III single-blind RCT carried out in a specialty Italian headache center, 177 patients with CM and MOH were randomized 1:1 to either TaU (withdrawal from overused drugs, education on proper medication use and lifestyle issues, and tailored prophylaxis) or mindfulness-based intervention added to TaU (TaU + MIND). The mindfulness-based intervention consisted of six group session of mindfulness practice and 7-10 min daily self-practice. The primary endpoint was the achievement of ≥ 50% headache frequency reduction at 12 months compared to baseline, and was analyzed on an intention-to-treat principle using Pearson's Chi-Squared test. Secondary endpoints included medication intake, quality of life (QoL), disability, depression and anxiety, cutaneous allodynia, awareness of inner states, work-related difficulties, and disease cost. The secondary endpoints were analyzed using per-protocol linear mixed models.

RESULTS

Out of the 177 participants 89 were randomized to TaU and 88 to TaU + MIND. Patients in the TaU + MIND group outperformed those in TaU for the primary endpoint (78.4% vs. 48.3%; p < 0.0001), and showed superior improvement in headache frequency, QoL and disability, headache impact, loss of productive time, medication intake, and in total, indirect and direct healthcare costs.

CONCLUSIONS

A mindfulness-based treatment composed of six-week session and 7-10 min daily self-practice added on to TaU is superior to TaU alone for the treatment of patients with CM and MOH.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

MIND-CM was registered on clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03671681) on14/09/2018.

Withdrawal failure in patients with chronic migraine and medication overuse headache

Objectives

The management of chronic migraine (CM) with Medication Overuse Headache (MOH) consists of withdrawal therapy, education on medications’ use and prescription of prophylaxis. Little attention has been given to patients who fail in achieving a successful short‐term outcome after withdrawal: we aim to describe predictors of failure.

Methods

Patients with CM and MOH were enrolled at the Neurological Institute C. Besta of Milano, and included if they completed the three months follow‐up. Withdrawal failure was defined as the situation in which patients either did not revert from chronic to episodic migraine (EM), were still overusing acute medications, or both did not revert to EM and kept overusing acute medications. Predictors of failure were addressed with a logistic regression, and for all variables, the longitudinal course in the two groups was described.

Results

In 39, out of 137 patients, withdrawal was unsuccessful: the predictors included day‐hospital‐based withdrawal (OR: 2.37; 95% CI: 1.06–5.29), emergency room (ER) access before withdrawal (OR: 2.81; 95% CI: 1.13–6.94) and baseline headache frequency >69 days/three months (OR: 2.97; 95% CI: 1.32–6.65). Patients who failed withdrawal did not improve on medications intake, use of prophylactic and non‐pharmacological treatments, symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Conclusions

Patients who were treated in day‐hospital, those who recently attended ER for headache, and those with more than 69 headache/3 months, as well as to those with relevant symptoms of anxiety and depression who did not improve should be closely monitored to reduce likelihood of non‐improvement after structured withdrawal.

The Humanistic and Economic Burden of Migraine in Europe: A Cross-Sectional Survey in Five Countries

INTRODUCTION

Prior studies have estimated the burden of migraine in patients suffering from ≥ 4 monthly headache days (MHDs), but the burden experienced by migraineurs suffering from one to three (1-3) MHDs is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the incremental burden of migraine in terms of health-related quality of life (HRQoL), impairments to work and daily activities, and healthcare resource utilization (HRU) in five European countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK (EU5]), by comparing migraineurs with ≥ 4 MHDs and migraineurs with 1-3 MHDs.

METHODS

The sample for this retrospective cross-sectional study was collected from the 2017 National Health and Wellness Survey (N = 62,000). The Short-Form 12-Item Health Survey Instrument, version-2 physical and mental component summary (PCS and MCS) scores, Short-Form 6-dimensions (SF-6D), EuroQoL 5-dimensions (EQ-5D) and EuroQoL visual analog scale (VAS) scores, impairments to work productivity and daily activities (Work Productivity and Activity Impairment [WPAI] Questionnaire) scores, and HRU were compared between migraineur groups with ≥ 4 MHDs (4-7, intermediate-frequency episodic migraine; 8-14, high-frequency episodic migraine; ≥ 15 chronic migraine) and the migraineur subgroup with 1-3 MHDs (low-frequency episodic migraine) using generalized linear modeling after adjusting for covariates.

RESULTS

Data from a total of 62,000 survey respondents were examined, of whom 1323 and 1569 were considered to have 1-3 MHDs and ≥ 4 MHDs (4-7 MHDs [n = 783]; 8-14 MHDs [n = 429]; ≥ 15 MHDs [n = 357]), respectively. The adjusted HRQoL was significantly lower in the 4-7 MHDs (for MCS and SF-6D scores; p < 0.0001) and 8-14 MHDs subgroups (for MCS, SF-6D, EQ-5D, and EuroQoL VAS scores, p < 0.0001; for PCS scores, p = 0.0007) than in the 1-3 MHDs subgroup. Migraineurs with 4-7 and 8-14 MHDs reported higher activity impairment and more frequent visits to healthcare providers (all p < 0.0001) and neurologists (p = 0.0006 and p < 0.0001, respectively) compared to the 1-3 MHDs subgroup. Migraineurs with ≥ 15 MHDs had significantly lower HRQoL and increased WPAI scores and HRU than the 1-3 MHDs subgroup.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides evidence supporting the incremental burden of migraine, characterized by poorer HRQoL and increased WPAI scores and greater HRU, among migraineurs experiencing ≥ 4 MHDs compared with migraineurs experiencing 1-3 MHDs in the EU5.

Outcome measures for assessing the effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions in frequent episodic or chronic migraine: a Delphi study

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this Delphi survey was to establish an international consensus on the most useful outcome measures for research on the effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions for migraine. This is important, since guidelines for pharmacological trials recommend measuring the frequency of headaches with 50% reduction considered a clinically meaningful effect. It is unclear whether the same recommendations apply to complementary (or adjunct) non-pharmacological approaches, whether the same cut-off levels need to be considered for effectiveness when used as an adjunct or stand-alone intervention, and what is meaningful to patients.

SETTING

University-initiated international survey.

PARTICIPANTS

The expert panel was chosen based on publications on non-pharmacological interventions in migraine populations and from personal contacts. 35 eligible researchers were contacted, 12 agreed to participate and 10 completed all 3 rounds of the survey. To further explore how migraine patients viewed potential outcome measures, four migraine patients were interviewed and presented with the same measurement tools as the researchers.

PROCEDURES

The initial Delphi round was based on a systematic search of the literature for outcome measures used in non-pharmacological interventions for headache. Suggested outcome measures were rated by each expert, blinded towards the other members of the panel, for its usefulness on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from definitely not useful to extremely useful. Results were combined using median values and IQRs. Tools rated overall as definitely or probably not useful were excluded from subsequent rounds. Experts further suggested additional outcome measures that were presented to the panel in subsequent rounds. Additionally, experts were asked to rank the most useful tools and provide information on feasible cut-off levels for effectiveness for the three highest ranked tools.

RESULTS

Results suggest the use of the Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS), Headache Impact Test (HIT-6) and headache frequency as primary outcome measures. Patient experts suggested the inclusion of a measure of quality of life and evaluation of associated symptoms and fear of attacks.

CONCLUSIONS

Recommendations are for the use of the MIDAS, the HIT-6 and headache frequency, in combination with an outcome measure for quality of life. Associated symptoms and fear of attacks should also be considered as secondary outcomes, if relevant for the individual target population. The cut-off level for effectiveness should be lower for non-pharmacological interventions, especially when used as an adjunct to medication.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

German Register of Clinical Trials (DRKS00011777).

HEADWORK Questionnaire: Why Do We Need a New Tool to Assess Work-Related Disability in Patients With Migraine?

OBJECTIVE

This article reviews current headache disability measures and clinical need, as well as presenting the rationale for a new measure addressing work-related disability in migraine patients and the steps devoted to this aim.

BACKGROUND

Episodic and chronic migraine (EM and CM) constitute an enormous economic burden to societies, and the vast majority of this burden is attributable to indirect costs, ie those associated with productivity loss. A measure of work-related disability is therefore needed to quantify the impact of EM and CM on patients' ability to carry out work tasks.

METHODS

We briefly present the advantages and disadvantages of the disability measures that have been most commonly used for this purpose and the rationale for developing a new measure.

RESULTS

The entire process of development of HEADWORK, a questionnaire designed to assess work-related disability, is presented together with short-term sensitivity to change.

CONCLUSIONS

Current headache disability measures need improvement. HEADWORK is a valid, reliable, and sensitive questionnaire to address the amount and severity of work-related difficulties and of the factors contributing to such difficulties. HEADWORK is suitable for daily clinical practice, epidemiological research and for clinical trials, and potentially to define work-related disability weights for the calculation of migraine indirect costs.

The synergistic effects of nano-curcumin and coenzyme Q10 supplementation in migraine prophylaxis: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial

Introduction: Migraine is a disabling neurovascular disorder characterized by increasing levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress biomarkers. Curcumin and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) can exert neuroprotective effects through modulation of inflammation and oxidative stress. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the combined effects of nano-curcumin and CoQ10 supplementation on migraine symptoms and quality of life in migraine patients.Methods: One-hundred men and women (mean age 32 years) with episodic migraine based on the International Headache Society (IHS) criteria participated in this study. The subjects were randomly divided into four groups as (1) combination of nano-curcumin (80 mg) plus CoQ10 (300 mg), (2) nano-curcumin (80 mg), (3) CoQ10 (300 mg) and (4) the control (nano-curcumin and CoQ10 placebo included oral paraffin oil) beside usual prophylactic drugs for 8 weeks. Frequency, severity, duration of headache attacks, the headache diary results (HDR) and headache disability based on migraine-specific questionnaires were assessed at the baseline and end of the study.Results: Ninety-one of 100 patients completed the study. The results showed a significant effect of nano-curcumin and CoQ10 supplementation on frequency, severity, duration of migraine attacks and HDR compared to other groups (All P < 0.001). Nano-curcumin and CoQ10 group also had better scores in migraine-specific questionnaires at the end of the study compared to other groups (All P < 0.001). There were no side effects reported by the participants.Conclusions: These findings suggest a possible synergistic effect of nano-curcumin and CoQ10 on clinical features of migraine.Trial registration number: IRCT2017080135444N1.

Migraine-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire Chinese version 2.1 (MSQv2.1-C): psychometric evaluation in patients with migraine

BACKGROUND

Migraine ranks as the third most prevalent disease and the seventh most common cause of disability worldwide. To better understand the impact of migraine on the quality of life of individuals with this diagnosis, and how these might differ from one country or culture to another, reliable and valid measures of quality of life that are available in different languages are needed. To address this need, here we (1) translated the Migraine-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire into Chinese (MSQv2.1-C), and (2) examined the psychometric properties of the measure.

METHODS

Forward and backward translation was conducted using four bilingual experts. One native speaker finalized the translation. Cognitive testing was performed by interviewing 11 monolingual migraineurs, and modifications were made to the MSQv2.1-C, as appropriate. Next, 174 individuals with a history of migraine completed the MSQv2.1-C, along with the SF-12, Migraine Disability Assessment Scale, and numerical rating scale s assessing pain intensity. We then evaluated the reliability and validity of the MSQv2.1-C by performing analyses to evaluate its internal consistency, test-retest reliability, convergent validity, criterion validity, and construct validity.

RESULTS

The MSQv2.1-C scales demonstrated (1) good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha s ≥ 0.81); (2) good 1-week test-retest reliability (intra-class coefficients ≥0.69 and Spearman's rho correlation coefficients ≥0.74); (3) convergent validity (positive correlations with the MSQ and SF-12 scales [rho range = 0.27 to 0.37, ps < 0.05]); (4) criterion validity (negative correlations [rho range = - 0.51 to - 0.25, ps < 0.05]) between the MSQv2.1-C scales and pain-related criterion variables; and (5) construct validity (item factor loadings ranging from 0.71 to 0.96 [> 0.5]).

CONCLUSIONS

The MSQv2.1-C exhibited satisfactory reliability and validity in a sample of individuals with migraine who speak Chinese. The availability of this measure will facilitate research, including cross-cultural research, on the quality of life of individuals with migraine.

Multimorbidity in patients with chronic migraine and medication overuse headache

OBJECTIVES

Patients with chronic migraine (CM) display a considerable amount of comorbidities, particularly psychiatric and cardiovascular, and the presence of multiple comorbidities, that is, the so-called multimorbidity, is a risk factor for migraine chronification or maintenance of CM. Our aim was to address the rate and impact of multimorbidity in patients with CM and medication overuse headache (MOH).

MATERIALS & METHODS

In a sample of patients with CM attending a structured withdrawal for coexisting MOH, we defined multimorbidity as the presence of two or more conditions in addition to CM-MOH. We compared patients with and without multimorbidity for demographic and clinical variables, quality of life, and disability; we also tested whether patients with multimorbidity had higher likelihood to attend emergency room, relapse into CM, and require further withdrawal treatments by 12 months.

RESULTS

One hundred and ninety-four patients were enrolled as follows: 61% had at least one comorbidity, the most common being mental (34%), circulatory (18%), and endocrine conditions (13%); 32% were multimorbidity cases. Patients with multimorbidity had higher headaches frequency, older age, lower education and lower employment rates, higher disability and lower QoL. They were more frequently opioids/barbiturates overusers and were more likely to attend ER (OR: 2.36), relapse into CM (OR: 2.19), and undergo another withdrawal (OR: 2.75) by 12 months after discharge, after controlling for age, gender, years of education, and headache frequency.

CONCLUSIONS

Recognizing multimorbidity in patients with CM-MOH is important to enhance the management of these complex patients, who are at risk of polypharmacy and increased health care utilization.

Validation of a self-reported instrument to assess work-related difficulties in patients with migraine: the HEADWORK questionnaire

Background

The degree to which work-related difficulties are recognized in headache research is poor and often carried out with inadequate information such as “reduced ability to work as usual”, which do not capture at all the variety of difficulties and the factors that impact over them. The aim of this paper is to present the validation of the HEADWORK questionnaire, which addresses the amount and severity of difficulties in work-related tasks and the factors that impact over them.

Methods

We developed a set of items based on a previous literature review and patients’ focus groups and tested it on a wide set of patients with episodic and chronic migraine attending eight different Italian headache centers. HEADWORK factor structure was assessed with exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis; internal consistency and construct validity were addressed as well.

Results

The validation sample (N = 373) was mostly composed of patients with episodic migraine without aura (64.3%) and of females (81%). Factor analysis retrieved two different scales: “Work-related difficulties”, composed of eleven items which explain 67.1% of the total variance, and “Factors contributing to work difficulties”, composed of six items which explain 52.1% of the total variance. Both HEADWORK subscales have good measurement properties, with higher scores being associated to higher disability, lower quality of life, lower productivity, higher headache frequency and pain intensity.

Conclusions

HEADWORK is a 17-item, two-scale questionnaire addressing the impact of migraine on work-related difficulties in terms of difficulties in general or specific skills, and the factors contributing to these difficulties, defined as negative impact on work tasks. It can be used to address disability weights for the purpose of calculating the burden of migraine, and to assess the balance between therapeutic and side effects of medication on productivity.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s10194-018-0914-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Patients' perspective on the burden of migraine in Europe: a cross-sectional analysis of survey data in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom

Background

Migraine is a distinct neurological disease that imposes a significant burden on patients, society, and the healthcare system. This study aimed to characterize the incremental burden of migraine in individuals who suffer from ≥4 monthly headache days (MHDs) by examining health-related quality of life (HRQoL), impairments to work productivity and daily activities, and healthcare resource utilization (HRU) in the EU5 (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom).

Methods

This retrospective cross-sectional study used data from the 2016 National Health and Wellness Survey (NHWS; N = 80,600). Short-Form 36-Item Health Survey, version 2 (SF-36v2) physical and mental component summary scores (PCS and MCS), Short-form-6D (SF-6D), and EuroQoL (EQ-5D), impairments to work productivity and daily activities (Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire (WPAI), and HRU were compared between migraine respondents suffering from ≥4 MHDs (n = 218) and non-migraine controls (n = 218) by propensity score matching using sociodemographic characteristics. Chi-square, T-tests, and Mann-Whitney tests were performed to determine significant differences between the groups after propensity score matching.

Results

HRQoL was lower in migraine individuals suffering from ≥4 MHDs compared with non-migraine controls, with reduced SF-36v2 PCS (46.00 vs 50.51) and MCS (37.69 vs 44.82), SF-6D health state utility score (0.62 vs 0.71), and EQ-5D score (0.68 vs 0.81) (for all, p < 0.001). Respondents with migraine suffering from ≥4 MHDs also reported higher levels of absenteeism from work (14.43% vs 9.46%; p = 0.001), presenteeism (35.52% vs 20.97%), overall work impairment (38.70% vs 23.27%), and activity impairment (44.17% vs 27.75%) than non-migraine controls (for all, p < 0.001). Additionally, HRU was significantly higher for individuals with ≥4 MHDs compared to their matched controls. Consistently, migraine subgroups (4–7 MHDs, 8–14 MHDs and CM) had lower HRQoL, greater overall work and activity impairment, and higher HRU compared to non-migraine controls.

Conclusions

Migraine of ≥4 MHDs was associated with poorer HRQoL, greater work productivity loss, and higher HRU compared with non-migraine controls. The findings of the study suggest that an unmet need exists among individuals suffering from ≥4 MHDs in the EU5 suggesting the need for effective prophylactic treatments to lessen the humanistic and economic burden of migraine.

Validity, reliability, and sensitivity to change of the Thai version of the Migraine-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire version 2.1

Background

The Migraine-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire version 2.1 (MSQv2.1) is used to evaluate the impact of symptoms on the quality of life (QoL) of migraineurs.

Objective

To evaluate primarily the concurrent validity, test–retest reliability, and internal consistency, and secondarily the sensitivity to change of a Thai version of the MSQv2.1.

Methods

The original English version of the MSQv2.1 was translated into a Thai version. The Thai version of the MSQv2.1 was assessed for content and language equivalence. Validity of the Thai version of the MSQv2.1 was assessed using migraine characteristics in a prospective study conducted at the Chulalongkorn Comprehensive Headache Centre of King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital. Test–retest reliability and internal consistency were tested in migraineurs. Sensitivity to change was evaluated in another group of migraineurs using an 8-week follow-up.

Results

We recruited 30 migraineurs to test the validity, test–retest reliability, and internal consistency of the Thai version of the MSQv2.1 and 11 migraineurs to test its sensitivity to change. The Thai version of the MSQv2.1 scores were significantly correlated with migraine symptoms (inverse coefficient range from –0.62 to –0.39) except for associated symptoms, which had no correlation with any of the dimensions or overall QoL score. Spearman’s correlation coefficient for test–retest reliability was 0.56–0.83, and Cronbach’s α for internal consistency was 0.91–0.96. Headache, including average pain duration per attack, pain severity score (numeric rating scale), associated symptoms and dimensions, and overall QoL score of the Thai version of MSQv2.1 improved over time (P < 0.05). Moreover, improvement in headache correlated (coefficient range 0.67–0.77) with improvement in overall QoL score and some dimensions of the Thai version of the MSQv2.1 (coefficient range 0.66–0.77).

Conclusion

The Thai version of the MSQv2.1 had validity, acceptable internal consistency, moderate-to-strong test–retest reliability, and strong correlation between improvement in headache severity and overall QoL score. A future study with a larger sample size and longer follow-up is required for better estimates of internal consistency and sensitivity to change.

World Health Organization disability assessment schedule 2.0: An international systematic review

PURPOSE

This systematic review examines research and practical applications of the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0) as a basis for establishing specific criteria for evaluating relevant international scientific literature. The aims were to establish the extent of international dissemination and use of WHODAS 2.0 and analyze psychometric research on its various translations and adaptations. In particular, we wanted to highlight which psychometric features have been investigated, focusing on the factor structure, reliability, and validity of this instrument.

METHOD

Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology, we conducted a search for publications focused on "whodas" using the ProQuest, PubMed, and Google Scholar electronic databases.

RESULTS

We identified 810 studies from 94 countries published between 1999 and 2015. WHODAS 2.0 has been translated into 47 languages and dialects and used in 27 areas of research (40% in psychiatry).

CONCLUSIONS

The growing number of studies indicates increasing interest in the WHODAS 2.0 for assessing individual functioning and disability in different settings and individual health conditions. The WHODAS 2.0 shows strong correlations with several other measures of activity limitations; probably due to the fact that it shares the same disability latent variable with them. Implications for Rehabilitation WHODAS 2.0 seems to be a valid, reliable self-report instrument for the assessment of disability. The increasing interest in use of the WHODAS 2.0 extends to rehabilitation and life sciences rather than being limited to psychiatry. WHODAS 2.0 is suitable for assessing health status and disability in a variety of settings and populations. A critical issue for rehabilitation is that a single "minimal clinically important .difference" score for the WHODAS 2.0 has not yet been established.

Determinants of Quality of Life in Ageing Populations: Results from a Cross-Sectional Study in Finland, Poland and Spain

Purpose

To comprehensively identify the determinants of quality of life (QoL) in a population study sample of persons aged 18–50 and 50+.

Methods

In this observational, cross-sectional study, QoL was measured with the WHOQOL-AGE, a brief instrument designed to measure QoL in older adults. Eight hierarchical regression models were performed to identify determinants of QoL. Variables were entered in the following order: Sociodemographic; Health Habits; Chronic Conditions; Health State description; Vision and Hearing; Social Networks; Built Environment. In the final model, significant variables were retained. The final model was re-run using data from the three countries separately.

Results

Complete data were available for 5639 participants, mean age 46.3 (SD 18.4). The final model accounted for 45% of QoL variation and the most relevant contribution was given by sociodemographic data (particularly age, education level and living in Finland: 17.9% explained QoL variation), chronic conditions (particularly depression: 4.6%) and a wide and rich social network (4.6%). Other determinants were presence of disabling pain, learning difficulties and visual problems, and living in usable house that is perceived as non-risky. Some variables were specifically associated to QoL in single countries: age in Poland, alcohol consumption in Spain, angina in Finland, depression in Spain, and self-reported sadness both in Finland and Poland, but not in Spain. Other were commonly associated to QoL: smoking status, bodily aches, being emotionally affected by health problems, good social network and home characteristics.

Conclusions

Our results highlight the importance of modifiable determinants of QoL, and provide public health indications that could support concrete actions at country level. In particular, smoking cessation, increasing the level of physical activity, improving social network ties and applying universal design approach to houses and environmental infrastructures could potentially increase QoL of ageing population.

Migraine-specific quality of life questionnaire and relapse of medication overuse headache

BACKGROUND

The management of Medication overuse headache (MOH) represents a difficult challenge for clinicians and headache experts, particularly for the responder rate after a successful withdrawal treatment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of demographic and clinical characteristics as well as the score of Migraine-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (MSQ), Migraine Disability Questionnaire and Leeds Dependence Questionnaire in predicting a response after a successful withdrawal treatment in patients with MOH.

METHODS

This ancillary study is part of a randomized trial that demonstrated the safety and the efficacy of a 3-month treatment with sodium valproate (VPA) (800 mg/day vs placebo) in MOH. Demographic and clinical characteristics and questionnaire results were obtained from the entire sample.

RESULTS

A significant correlation was found only between MOH relapse and the total MSQ score, the Role Preventive sub-scale and the Emotional Function sub-scale, suggesting a poorer quality of life in non responders.

CONCLUSION

A high MSQ score could be associated with a poor short-term outcome in MOH patients after a successful treatment with detoxification followed by a new treatment.