Tehran University Medical Journal

Migraine as one of the most common types of headaches with high intensity and prevalence, affects life significantly. This study was devised to determine the effects of migraine on economic status and life quality of Iranian surffcres.
"Pain database questionnaire", prepared by the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) in the year 1995, was translated to Farsi. Then we modified it regaiding cultural, geographical and social characteristics of Iran. 65 patients (55 women and 10 men) were recruited form neurology clinic consultants. Those patients who met the International Headache Society. (IHS) criteria for migraine, were interviewed using IASP questionnaire. Pain effects on sleep, marital life, social, recreational and sexual activities, quality and quantity of drug consumption as well as using paraclinic procedures were considered.
Significant decrease in sleep duration was seen during pain (7.4 ± 1.9 h) compared to pain-free conditions (6 ± 3.7 h) (P < 0.001). The effects of pain on marital life, social, recrealtional and sexual activities during pain were compared with pain-free conditions based on a zero to ten ranking schedule,. Wilcoxone test showed statistically significant (P < 0.02) differences.
We concluded that the economic effect of migraine and its impact on patients' quality of life are significant and should be considered in health planning and disease management