Cluster headache is a trigemino-autonomic cephalgia with a low prevalence. Several population-based studies on its prevalence and incidence have been performed, but with different methodology resulting in different figures. We analysed all available population-based epidemiological studies on cluster headache and compared the data in a meta-analysis. The pooled data showed a lifetime prevalence of 124 per 100,000 [confidence interval (CI) 101, 151] and a 1-year prevalence of 53 per 100,000 (CI 26, 95). The overall sex ratio was 4.3 (male to female), it was higher in chronic cluster headache (15.0) compared with episodic cluster headache (3.8). The ratio of episodic vs. chronic cluster headache was 6.0. Our analysis revealed a relatively stable lifetime prevalence, which suggests that about one in 1000 people suffers from cluster headache, the prevalence being independent of the region of the population study. The sex ratio (male to female) is higher than published in several patient-based epidemiological studies.

Recently, a self-rating measure for pain perception based on imagined painful daily life situations, the Pain Sensitivity Questionnaire (PSQ), has been developed and shown to correlate with experimentally obtained pain intensity ratings in healthy subjects. Here, we assessed the validity of the PSQ for investigation of general pain perception (ie, pain perception outside the site of clinical pain) in chronic pain patients. PSQ scores were obtained in 134 chronic pain patients and compared to those of 185 healthy control subjects. In a subgroup of 46 chronic pain patients, we performed experimental pain testing outside the clinical pain site, including different modalities (heat, cold, pressure, and pinprick) and different measures (pain thresholds, pain intensity ratings). Results show that PSQ scores were significantly correlated with both experimental pain intensity ratings (Pearson's r=0.71, P<.001) and experimental pain thresholds (r=-0.52, P<.001). In addition, chronic pain patients exhibited significantly elevated PSQ scores as compared to healthy controls, consistent with the generalized increase of experimentally determined pain perception that has repeatedly been reported in chronic pain patients. These results demonstrate that the PSQ constitutes a valid self-rating measure of pain perception outside the clinical pain site in chronic pain patients and might serve as an alternative to experimental assessment of pain perception outside the clinical pain site in situations where experimental pain testing is not feasible.

Drug-induced headache is a well-known complication of the treatment of primary headache disorders, and its successful management is only possible by withdrawal therapy. However, it is unknown whether ambulatory or stationary withdrawal is the therapy preferred. We conducted a prospective study on the outcome of stationary versus ambulatory withdrawal therapy in patients with drug-induced headache according to the International Headache Society criteria. Out of 257 patients with the diagnosis of drug-induced headache during the study period, 101 patients (41 after ambulatory and 60 after stationary withdrawal therapy) could be followed up for 5.9 +/- 4.0 years. The total relapse rate after successful withdrawal therapy was 20.8% (14.6% after ambulatory and 25.0% after stationary withdrawal therapy, p < 0.2). The main risk factors for a relapse were male sex (OR = 3.9, CI = 1.3-11.6), intake of combined analgesic drugs (OR = 3.8, CI = 1.4-10.3), administration of naturopathy (OR = 6.0, CI = 1.2-29.3), and a trend to tension-type headache as the primary headache disorder (OR = 1.9, CI = 0.6-53.0). Our data suggest that neither the method of withdrawal therapy nor the kind of analgesic and other antimigraine drugs has a major impact on the long-term result after successful withdrawal therapy. Patients with risk factors according to our findings should be informed and monitored regularly, and combined drugs should be avoided. Furthermore, our data suggest that there is a need for research on individual psychological and behavioral risk factors for relapse after successful withdrawal therapy in drug-induced headache.

Multimodal pain therapy describes an integrated multidisciplinary treatment in small groups with a closely coordinated therapeutical approach. Somatic and psychotherapeutic procedures cooperate with physical and psychological training programs. For chronic pain syndromes with complex somatic, psychological and social consequences, a therapeutic intensity of at least 100 hours is recommended. Under these conditions multimodal pain therapy has proven to be more effective than other kinds of treatment. If monodisciplinary and/or outpatient therapies fail, health insurance holders have a legitimate claim to this form of therapy.Medical indications are given for patients with chronic pain syndromes, but also if there is an elevated risk of chronic pain in the early stadium of the disease and aiming at delaying the process of chronification. Relative contraindications are a lack of motivation for behavioural change, severe mental disorders or psychopathologies and addiction problems. The availability of multimodal pain treatment centers in Germany is currently insufficient.

Multimodal pain management is a comprehensive treatment of complex chronic pain syndromes. In addition to medical therapy various other specialized therapeutic interventions based on the biopsychosocial model of pain origin and chronic pain development, are added. During the last few years treatment centers for chronic pain have been established throughout Germany. Multimodal pain management has been included in the official catalogue of the recognized medical procedures for day clinic units as well as for inpatient pain management. In daily practice there is, however, still a lack of clarity and of consistency about the components that multimodal pain management should contain. This is the reason for the ad hoc commission on multimodal interdisciplinary pain management of the German Pain Society to propose the following position paper that has been worked out in a multilevel and interdisciplinary consensus process. The paper describes the mandatory treatment measures in the four core disciplines of multimodal pain management, pain medicine, psychotherapy, exercise therapy including physiotherapy and assistant medical professions including nurses.