Attitudes of Physicians to Their Own Migraine: Can we Really Treat Ourselves?

Abstract

Objectives: Despite its high prevalence and association with significant disability, up to half of individuals who fulfillthe diagnostic criteria for migraine have never received a formal diagnosis from a physician. In this cross-sectionalstudy, we aimed to examine physicians' approaches to their own headaches, treatment choices, and disability using aquestionnaire.Methods: The 27-item questionnaire collected data on demographic characteristics, migraine screening questions,number of migraine attacks per month, headache severity on a visual analog scale, preventive and acute treatmentsfor migraine, number of days working when ill and days of missed work, and reasons for consulting a neurologist lessthan needed.Results: Among 198 migraneurs, only 42 (21.2%) had a consultation with a neurologist at any time of their lives, and 76physicians (48.7%) said that they lacked time for a neurology visit.Conclusion: Migraine headache remains an under recognized and undertreated disease despite the availability of effectivetreatment options even among physicians.