Migraine Assessment and Diagnosis

In the third video of the series, PA Christina Lindemann focuses on migraine assessment and diagnosis. She outlines the key elements of a thorough patient evaluation, including headache history, physical exam, and the clinical details that can help distinguish migraine from other headache disorders.

PA Lindemann reviews diagnostic criteria for migraine with aura, migraine without aura, and chronic migraine. She also highlights the importance of identifying red flags that may point to a secondary headache disorder. With a practical, patient-centered approach, this video helps PAs build confidence in recognizing and accurately diagnosing migraine.

Key Takeaways:

A thorough history is pertinent in diagnosis of migraine.
ICHD-3 diagnostic criteria enable diagnosis of migraine with and without aura as well as chronic migraine.

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Speaker

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Christina Lindemann, MSPAS, PA-C

References and Additional Resources:

Martin VT, Feoktistov A, Solomon GD. A rational approach to migraine diagnosis and management in primary care. Ann Med. 2021;53(1):1979-1990. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34714201/

Weatherall MW. The diagnosis and treatment of chronic migraine. Ther Adv Chronic Dis. 2015;6(3):115-123. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25954496/

Ravishankar K. The art of history-taking in a headache patient. Ann Indian Acad Neurol. 2012;15(Suppl 1):S7-S14. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23024567/

Headache classification committee of the international headache society (IHS) the international classification of headache disorders, 3rd edition. Cephalalgia. 2018;38(1):1-211. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29368949/

Eigenbrodt AK, Ashina H, Khan S, et al. Diagnosis and management of migraine in ten steps. Nat Rev Neurol. 2021;17(8):501-514. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34145431/

Evans RW, Burch RC, Frishberg BM, et al. Neuroimaging for Migraine: The American Headache Society Systematic Review and Evidence-Based Guideline. Headache. 2020;60(2):318-336. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31891197/

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Christina Lindemann, MSPAS, PA-C

Christina Lindemann is a board-certified physician associate specializing in neurology and headache medicine. She received her Bachelor of Science in neuroscience from the University of Minnesota in 2016 and Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse – Gundersen – Mayo PA Program in 2019.

Following graduation from PA school, she built a clinical foundation for medical and procedural management of headache disorders working in neurology at Mayo Clinic. She later transitioned to the UC San Diego Health Headache Center in 2021, where she continues to treat patients with complex headache disorders, including migraine. She has an additional interest in education, authoring papers on headache disorders, presenting CME lectures on headache management, and precepting students.