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The Journal of Headache and Pain logoLink to The Journal of Headache and Pain
. 2009 Dec 18;11(1):13–19. doi: 10.1007/s10194-009-0179-2

A review of current European treatment guidelines for migraine

Fabio Antonaci 1,2,, Cezar Dumitrache 3, Ilaria De Cillis 1,2, Marta Allena 4
PMCID: PMC3452183  PMID: 20020170

Abstract

Migraine is one of the ten most disabling disorders worldwide, and despite recent developments in the management of migraine, it remains underdiagnosed and undertreated. Guidelines for the management of migraine aim to improve the quality of patient care and to assist professionals in decision making in relation to the overall healthcare process. Most European countries have published national clinical practice guidelines for migraine treatment. These guidelines need to be kept up-to-date with the most recent best clinical evidence and therapeutic strategies to ensure their optimal use to improve health outcomes. The aim of this review is to compare the English language guidelines available across Europe, analyzing differences and similarities, in order to provide a general overview to assist in assessing whether a European consensus on migraine treatment can be achieved.

Keywords: National guidelines, Migraine management, Stratified care, Stepped care

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Conflict of interest

None.

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