Headache
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The McGill-Melzack Pain Questionnaire (MMPQ), comprised primarily of adjectives descriptive of pain, was administered to 100 patients seeking treatment for headache. Diagnostic classification of patients into migraine or muscle contraction headache groups was conducted by a screening neurologist using information other than pain description. Reliability determinations were made following independent diagnosis by two other neurologists using a headache pain history and symptom form (HPHSF) devoid of pain adjectives. ⋯ Findings revealed that group membership could be predicted at a 90% rate (chi2 145 = 33.06, rho < .001). A cross validation on the second half of the sample confirmed these findings (chi2 1.48 = 13.08, rho < .05) suggesting that the MMPQ is of value in headache diagnosis. Differences between electromyographic studies and headache pain report are discussed as well as suggestions concerning modification of the MMPQ for headache assessment.