Development and testing of the Japanese version of the migraine-specific quality of life instrument.

We developed and tested a version of the migraine-specific quality of life (MSQOL) instrument for use in Japan. The MSQOL was translated into Japanese, evaluated by physicians and nurses who has experienced migraine headaches, 'backtranslated', approved by the author of the original version, and tested in 70 out-patients with migraine. There were no ceiling or floor effects. All three subscales were found to be internally consistent: alpha > or = 0.76. The patients' scores were similar to those reported in the user's manual, with the exception of a difference of about 11 points on the Avoidance Behaviors subscale. Some correlations between MSQOL scores and SF-36 scores were statistically significant, although none exceeded 0.52. Linear associations between some measures of symptoms and some MSQOL scales were statistically significant, but those associations were consistent neither for the two kinds of symptom reports (severity and frequency) nor across all MSQOL subscales. Low MSQOL scores in early 1999 correlated with more return visits for medication and with greater amounts of triptan (anti-migraine) medication in 2001 and 2002. Overall, we interpret these results as indicating that, while they cannot be used as substitutes for reports of symptoms, scores on the Japanese version of the MSQOL can be used to assess the impact of migraine headaches on patients' lives.