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ID Migraine

Can ID Migraine diagnose Migraine Fast?

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ID Migraine is a tool that was developed about 10 years ago by Dr. Richard Lipton and a team of researchers.  At the time, there was so much misdiagnosis that few people were getting good, targeted treatment.  (Sadly, there is still a lot of misdiagnosis, but things are improving.)

ID Migraine

Knowing that doctors often have limited time with patients, a tool was needed to point them in the right direction early on.

ID Migraine consists of three simple questions.  The test has been modified and reinvented at times, but basically it goes something like this:

  • Has a headache limited your activities for a day or more in the last three months?
  • Are you nauseated or sick to your stomach when you have a headache?
  • Does light bother you when you have a headache?

If you answer “yes” to at least two of these questions, you probably have migraine.

Cautions and Limitations

Research seems to support the idea – yes, if you answer in the affirmative to at least two of these questions, you probably do have migraine.

But could you answer “yes” and still not have migraine?  It’s possible.  You could also have migraine symptoms that are caused or triggered by other diseases or conditions.  There is always a danger that a doctor (or patient) will say “it’s just migraine” and miss out on something else that could be treated if caught in time.  That’s another reason why continued dialogue with your doctor and ongoing treatment is critical.

Could you answer “no” and still have migraine?  I’m afraid so.  It should be noted that this tool does work best for someone who goes to the doctor complaining of headache.  There are types of migraine where headache is not the predominant symptoms, or where it isn’t present at all.

But assuming there is headache, it is possible to have symptoms other than nausea and photophobia (sensitivity to light).

Of course, diagnosing anything with three questions is a challenge, and only the first step.  This tool does an excellent job of getting things right the majority of the time.

But it is still very important to see a doctor who knows your medical history, and to look for good, well researched treatment for migraine.

Again, diagnosing migraine is only the first step.  Knowing what type of migraine you have is the next step toward good treatment.  Get a specific diagnosis and keep an eye on your symptoms over time.  If things change for the worse, or don’t improve, you’ll need to be more aggressive in your fight against migraine.

Still, ID Migraine is a useful tool that can point a doctor in the right direction and hopefully help many get proper treatment faster.  It’s still being used today to help both doctors and patients.

If People Only Knew – the Power of Getting the Word Out

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One of the challenges for migraine and headache patient advocates is simply getting information out to people.  The reason is, many of the people that need it most don’t know that they need to know something!

Enter this fascinating study that took place in Rome, Italy.  The researchers wanted to see if they could make a real difference in people’s lives by doing a one-time information campaign about migraine.

So they made the Casilino district their target.  They sent letters to all households with information about ID Migraine.  They put up posters in doctor’s office waiting rooms.

Patients got in touch, and 92% were indeed diagnosed with migraine.  But amazingly, 73% had never consulted a doctor for headache!

The researchers followed up on these people with a telephone interview.  They found that even in the long term there was general improvement – less pain, fewer and shorter migraine attacks – an overall better quality of life.

All this for people who mostly didn’t even tell their doctor about their symptoms.

The researchers did notice a lack of benefit in more severe cases.  They feel that the answer is encouraging GPs to refer patients right away to a headache/migraine specialist, because generally the family doctor was not equipped to deal with the more "serious" cases.

But in the end, the campaign generally made a big difference in the lives of 1-2 hundred migraineurs.

We need to do a better job getting the word out, so that people know about the treatments that are available.  But how can we do it?  What are your ideas?

Clever Ibuprofen ad
Would this ibuprofen ad grab your attention?
Photo courtesy of Arturo de Albornoz

For details on the study see Long-term effects of a sensitisation campaign on migraine: the Casilino study.

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The articles on Headache and Migraine News are © 2004-2026 J. Cottrill.
Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of each article, and to point you to further sources of information. However, this site is for informational purposes only and should never replace a visit to your doctor.