LOS ANGELES -- Few migraine patients eligible for behavioral treatment are being referred by their headache specialist, according to Mia T. Minen, MD, MPH, of New York University, and colleagues.
Among a group of 234 eligible patients with migraine diagnosed at the NYU Langone Health's Headache Center from 2016-2017, less than 30% were further referred for behavioral treatment to a psychologist for their migraines, they stated in a poster.
Among those referred, less than 57% actually adhered to the referral by scheduling an appointment for behavioral treatment during an average 76-day follow-up period.
Having previously seen a psychologist for migraines made it more likely for the patient to schedule an appointment, while time constraints were the most common reason for not scheduling an appointment. Overall, there were no differences in sex, age, locus of control, MIDAS, healthcare utilization visits, or duration of headaches in regards to likelihood of initiating behavioral migraine treatment.
"More research should assess factors which might affect patients' decisions to initiate migraine behavioral treatment," Minen's group stated.
Disclosures
Minen's study group was supported by the American Academy of Neurology-American Brain Foundation Practice Research Training Fellowship.
Primary Source
American Academy of Neurology
Minen M, et al "Factors related to migraine patients' decisions to follow a headache specialist's recommendation for migraine behavioral treatment: A prospective observational study" AAN 2018; Abstract P4.120.