Validity of self-reported assessment of Severity of Dependence Scale in Medication-Overuse Headache

Abstract: The interview-based Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS) predicts the outcome of withdrawal therapy in Medication-Overuse Headache (MOH). We aimed to compare the interview-based SDS with a self-administrated written version. Fifty-three MOH patients, 19 chronic headache patients without medication overuse and 25 population controls were recruited from a previous randomized controlled trial. The SDS was scored in a telephone interview by headache experts, further, the participants filled in the SDS as a part of a self-administered questionnaire. The SDS assesses scores dependence through five questions, each scored from 0 to 3. A score of ≥5 is associated with MOH. Mean SDS scores were 2.8 (SD 3.0) vs. 3.1 (SD 2.9), p = 0.12, for the interview vs. the self-reported questionnaire, with a correlation 0.78. There was a non-significant bias of 0.32 (95% limits of agreement of −3.6; 4.2) between the two methods in the Bland-Altman analysis. A self-reported SDS questionnaire can be used, and may yield valuable information as a screening tool prior to headache consultations or studies. The possibilities of designing web-based self-treatment tools based on SDS self-assessment and brief intervention may be a future approach for a large group of patients.

Object Details

• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Validity of self-reported assessment of Severity of Dependence Scale in Medication-Overuse Headache ; volume:19 ; number:4 ; year:2019 ; pages:837-841 ; extent:5 ; Scandinavian journal of pain ; 19, Heft 4 (2019), 837-841 (gesamt 5)

Contributors, Places and Time

• Creator: Kristoffersen, Espen Saxhaug ; Benth, Jūratė Šaltytė ; Straand, Jørund ; Russell, Michael Bjørn ; Lundqvist, Christofer

Further information

• DOI: 10.1515/sjpain-2019-0022
• URN: urn:nbn:de:101:1-2024022715205739488942
• Rights: Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 14.08.2025, 10:47 AM CEST