Classification of daily and near-daily headaches

Abstract

Primary chronic daily headache can be subdivided into transformed migraine, chronic tension-type headache, hemicrania continua, and new daily persistent headache. We proposed and tested criteria in 150 consecutive outpatients with chronic daily headache. Based on preliminary analysis, we revised the criteria for transformed migraine. Using the International Headache Society criteria, 43% of the patients could not be classified; using our old criteria, 25% could not be classified; however, using our new criteria, we were able to classify 100%. Seventy-eight percent had transformed migraine, 15.3% had chronic tension-type headache, and 6.7% had other headache disorders.

Cephalalgiaphobia: a possible specific phobia of illness

“…As avoidance behaviour, patients overused acute medications despite being aware that it was the fear of having another migraine attack or a headache exacerbation that made them take more analgesics than necessary. The sedation-seeking behaviour, "soporophilia", described by Saper et al [16] was not identified. The fear of a headache attack or exacerbation was marked and persistent.…”

“…MOH pathophysiology may be linked to this mechanism. Saper et al [16] have identified the "biobehavioural" aspect of MOH. Anticipatory anxiety, obsessional drug-taking behaviours and drug dependence were considered important.…”

Combination of acupuncture and spinal manipulative therapy: management of a 32-year-old patient with chronic tension-type headache and migraine

“…10,15 Observational and population-based studies describe progressive migraine headaches that become CDHs, a condition that affects 3% to 5% of the population with episodic headaches. [16][17][18][19][20][21] Chronic daily headaches are defined as primary headaches that occur at least 15 days per month, 22-26 although they are not described in the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD)-2 criteria.…”

“…26 Most notably, the headache worsens during the period of medication overuse. 18,19,21,23 What differentiates the quality of MOHs from CTTHs most clearly is that MOHs worsen significantly with mental or physical exertion, whereas CTTHs do not. Medication overuse headaches occur in approximately 1% of the population 28 and can be a major contributing factor in the transformation of episodic headaches to CDHs.…”

“…21 Transformed migraines are not addressed in the ICHD-2. 19,[21][22][23] Migraines can be chronic, more than 8 migraines per month for 3 months according to ICHD-2 criteria, 27,30 without being transformed. Transformed migraines, which are daily or near-daily "mixed" TTH and migraine in nature, 19,28 occur predominantly in women, starting as strictly simple episodic migraines associated with or (more commonly) without auras in the teens and early 20s.…”