Communication with the migraine patient.

Much has been added to our knowledge of effective physician-patient communication by the research of the past two decades. Good communication skills are especially important for the clinician dealing with a migraine patient, as neither laboratory tests nor diagnostic physical findings are available to assist the physician in diagnosis and treatment. It is important for clinicians to understand that effective communication skills can be taught and learned and that, once mastered, they have the potential to improve patient outcomes.