[The headache questionnaire of the German Migraine and Headache Society (DMKG) : A new tool to improve headache care].

Abstract

To enable state-of-the-art diagnosis, therapy and monitoring of headache disorders, comprehensive history taking is necessary and can be time-consuming. This is facilitated substantially if the patient gathers the needed information beforehand, using a specialized questionnaire. To this end, experts of the German Migraine and Headache Society (DMKG) have developed the DMKG headache questionnaire. It assesses central information such as headache frequency, characteristics, accompanying symptoms and medication, as well as comorbidities and validated scales for psychological cofactors, disability and quality of life. The complete version for a first visit is complemented by a shorter version for follow-up visits and a specialized cluster headache module. For headache care professionals, the DMKG headache questionnaire is free after registration ( https://www.dmkg.de/dmkg-kopfschmerzfragebogen ). It is available for a printout or as fillable PDF and can be combined with the included PDF headache diary or with the DMKG-App (smartphone headache diary). A digital version is in the planning. The DMKG headache questionnaire is an important step towards quality assurance of headache care in Germany.