A study assessed the efficacy of a Severity of Dependence Scale in detecting dependence behaviors in patients with chronic migraine and medication overuse (CM + MO). The findings were published in the International Journal of Headache.
This study consisted of 444 patients with CM + MO with data filled from the Severity of Dependence Scale and the Leeds Dependence Questionnaire. The population of interest underwent a psychological evaluation for the diagnosis of substance dependence according to the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders)-IV criteria.
According to the results, almost 70% of the study subjects presented substance dependence according to the DSM-IV criteria. The researchers noted that patients with substance dependence scored significantly higher than those without substance dependence in Severity of Dependence Scale total score (P = 0.001), and in items 1 (P = 0.015), 2 (P = 0.012), 4 (P = 0.04), and 5 (P = 0.001). The researchers showed that the Severity of Dependence Scale total score was a significant predictor for substance dependence (P < 0.001).
The investigators concluded that the Severity of Dependence Scale may “represent an interesting screening tool for dependency-like behaviors in CM + MO patients.”
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34541932/
Keywords: Medication-overuse headache, dependence, severity of dependence scale, validation
