The Henry Ford Hospital
Headache Disability Inventory (HDI)

This section was compiled by Frank M. Painter, D.C.
Send all comments or additions to:   Frankp@chiro.org

FROM:   Neurology. 1994 (May); 44 (5): 837-842

Jacobson GP, Ramadan NM, Aggarwal SK, Newman CW.

Department of Otolaryngology-Head Neck Surgery,
Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI 48202, USA.

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To quantify the impact of headache of daily living, we developed a 25-item headache disability inventory (HDI). The alpha version of the HDI (alpha-HDI) consisted of 40 items, each requiring a "yes" (four points), "sometimes" (two points), or "no" (zero points) response based on items derived empirically from case history responses of subjects with headache. From the alpha-HDI, we derived a 25-item beta version (beta-HDI) with the items subgrouped into functional and emotional subscales. The internal consistency/reliability was strong, as was construct validity. The test-retest reliability for the beta-HDI was acceptable for the total score and functional and emotional subscale scores. A 29-point change (95% confidence interval) or greater in the total score from test-retest must occur before the changes can be attributed to treatment effects. The HDI is useful in assessing the impact of headache, and its treatment, on daily living.

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