A chronic problem-the chronic headache patient

Abstract

Chronic daily headache is a frequent problem which affects 3-5% of the population. Until the 2nd edition of the IHS headache classification, the diagnosis of chronic headache was synonymous with the diagnosis of chronic tension type headache. Now one has to differentiate, not only in symptomatic headache, but also between other primary headache syndromes, such as chronic migraine, hemicrania continua and acute persisting daily headache. Epidemiological studies point to a particular importance of chronic migraine and headache due to chronic analgetica use, since both types of headache are responsible for more than 60% of all cases with chronic headache. Although the mechanisms which cause chronification of headache are not well understood, the new headache classification prompts some direct therapeutical consequences: 1) the indication for drug withdrawal and 2) the indication for a migraine preventive therapy. In general, as with other chronic pain syndromes, there is increasing evidence that a multimodal therapy, consisting of patient education, behavioral therapy and pharmacological therapy, is more successful than a singular therapy.