Experts Call for European-Wide 'Heads Up' on Migraine

ESSEN, Germany, March 8, 2010 - Migraine management in Europe is falling short of previous targets
according to the December Heads Up on Migraine conference of twenty
Neurologists and GPs representing 10 European countries and Canada.
Improvements in migraine treatment need to be implemented through closer
collaboration between healthcare professionals. Despite advances in
medication over the last decade, migraine patients continue to endure
difficulties relating to treatment failure, treatment dissatisfaction,
treatment adherence, medication overuse and medication underuse.

The Heads Up initiative follows on from the 2005 Rome Declaration on
Migraine, chaired by Professor Hans-Christoph Diener, University Hospital
Essen, Germany. The publication from the Rome Declaration stated that more
patients should receive expert medical treatment and set a goal for the
percentage of migraine patients treated by GPs to increase from 30-50% within
five years.[1]

"We can already conclude that this goal, despite some improvements has
not yet been reached", stated Professor Diener. "Therefore I was delighted to
Chair the December conference and consult with GPs and neurologists together
so that we could focus on achieving rapid improvements in the treatment of
patients with migraine across Europe. Our conference reached consensus across
five key areas. The conference participants will be taking responsibility for
these defined areas in their country"

1. Multidisciplinary headache care is ideal. However, where funding is
not available virtual headache clinics and primary care models including a
nurse-led call centre to triage patients effectively can represent useful
alternatives.

2. Healthcare professional education remains a critical priority: the
multidisciplinary headache team should involve members with a diverse skill
mix who have been appropriately trained. Training professionals not
traditionally involved in headache care, such as nurses and pharmacists, to
become part of the patient management team allows for more effective use of
the specialist physician expertise. Specialist headache nurses based in
primary care practices are also recommended.

3. Patient education needs to be more accessible: patients need to
clearly understand their condition and the treatments available, and their
implications in order to be better engaged in their own management.

4. Communication physician-to-patient: is particularly important in
migraine management. New approaches to improving communication techniques,
such as motivational interviewing can help physicians manage their patients
more effectively. If the physician successfully engages with the patient,
treatment adherence is more likely to improve and the patients are more
likely to self-manage their condition.

5. Communication physician-to-physician: Improving communication between
GPs and Neurologists and indeed, between all members of a multidisciplinary
team will only serve to improve patient care.

"Having reached a clear consensus from the Heads Up on Migraine
conference on our key areas of focus, we are highly motivated to look at
particular activities in our relevant countries to make a real and rapid
difference to patients' lives. Our intention will be to review and report on
our progress over the next 12 months." concluded Professor Diener.

Reference:

[1].Rome declaration On Migraine - 2005

Heads Up on Migraine was supported by an unrestricted
educational grant from MSD GmbH

Note to editors

    Chairman of the Meeting
    Professor Hans-Christoph Diener
    Chairman & Professor of Neurology
    Department of Neurology and Headache Center
    University Hospital Essen
    University of Duisburg-Essen
    Hufelandstr. 55
    45147 Essen
    Germany

    Participants at the meeting

    Canada
    Dr S McKenzie        Dr L Vieira
    Ontario              Quebec

    Denmark
    Dr J Møller Hansen   Dr S Garne
    Glostrup             Birkerod

    France
    Dr R Elfassi         Dr J Ruimy
    Paris                Paris

    Germany
    Dr A Gendolla        Dr C Gaul
    Essen                Essen

    Italy
    Dr D Grimaldi        Dr F Brighina
    Bologna              Palermo

    The Netherlands
    Dr JSP van den Berg  Dr H Sandelowsky
    Zwolle               Eemnes

    Norway
    Dr M Drottning-Rønne Dott. A Sigersvold Rasta
    Oslo

    Spain
    Dr V Baos            Dr E Arrieta Antón
    Madrid               Segovia

    Switzerland
    Dr W Rudolph
    Kirchberg

    UK
    Dr M Fontebasso      Dr D Pascoe-Watson
    York                 Cheltenham

    European Headache Alliance (EHA)
    Ms Audrey Craven
    Dublin

For further information, please contact: +49-201-723-2460, Professor Hans-Christoph Diener