VERBAL SCALES IN THE ACUTE TREATMENT OF MIGRAINE - SEMANTIC CATEGORIES AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Verbal scales are currently used as efficacy parameters in acute migra ine trials. In order to determine the correlation between headache int ensity, functional disability, and relevant pain reduction, 100 patien ts completed a questionnaire. Our results showed that a verbal scale o f headache intensity alone has different implications from one that in cludes pain intensity and functional ability. The reduction from a mod erate to a mild headache was satisfactory to only 35% of the patients. In contrast, 77% of patients were satisfied when the headache intensi ty was reduced from severe to mild. These findings imply that, in asse ssing the efficacy of drugs used for migraine, a reduction in pain int ensity from moderate to mild should not be considered as a good outcom e.