Daily headache

Abstract

In “Clinical and prognostic subforms of new daily-persistent headache,” Dr. Robbins and colleagues1 studied a very specific kind of headache called new daily-persistent headache (NDPH). Dr. Robbins and his group used their experience to carefully divide people with NDP into 2 groups. The people in the first group had headaches that fit the definition of NDPH proposed by the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD). They labeled this group NDPH-ICHD. In the second group, the people had headaches that had features of both NDPH and another kind of headache, migraine (table). They called this group NDPH-mf, the “mf” standing for migraine features. The reason they did this was to determine if there was a difference in the way that different kinds of NDPH might respond to medical treatment. Further, by following the group for a period of time, they could see how each type fared over time. In their editorial, Drs. Young and Swanson2 describe some of the issues concerning headaches. There are many kinds of headaches. As we learn more, it has become clear that selecting the best treatment requires making the best possible diagnosis. View this table: Table Different types of headache NDPH is defined as a headache. The pain is usually on both sides of the head (in 88%–93% of people with NDPH). The pain can be intermittent, but lasts more than 3 months. In some people, NDPH can last several years. Although a person could have had other types of headaches in his or her life, this one is different. Not only does it have a long duration, but most people can remember exactly when it started. Some people with NDPH describe “migraine features.” What this means is that they have the symptoms of NDPH, but also have symptoms that sound like migraine. For instance, common migraine …