Abstract
Migraine is common, affecting some 23% of Americans. Most are women. Although we have come a long way from the ancient belief that headache was the result of demonic possession, migraine continues to be misunderstood, underdiagnosed, and mistreated. The impact on quality of life is profound at work, home, and play, yet 50% of sufferers are not in treatment. Migraine has yet to gain acceptance as a valid disorder, which often leaves sufferers feeling profoundly isolated and abandoned. In this decade of the brain, advances in clinical and basic science and pharmaceutical research have paved the way for clearer and more concise diagnostic guidelines, improved understanding of pathophysiology, and improved and more specific treatment methods.
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