Headache classification and the distinction between migraine and muscle contraction headache

Abstract

The present study examined the ability of certain quantitative and qualitative measures of headache to distinguish between muscle contraction and migraine headache. Data were obtained from pain questionnaires administered to clients attending a hospital based Pain Management Clinic. Thirty-four complete files were available for analysis. Of these, 28 were completed by females; 6 by males. The average age of clients was 38 years. A cluster analysis performed on this sample suggested a two cluster solution corresponding to the traditional muscle contraction/migraine classification. The following variables were found to significantly distinguish between clusters: the number and type of adjectives used by subjects to describe headache; scores on the pain rating indices of the McGill Pain Questionnaire; the identification of physical factors as contributors to headache; the average intensity of headache; and a measure of disability due to headache. It was concluded that this study provided partial support for the traditional nomenclature of headache disorder and that future studies should replicate these results with a larger sample. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)