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05. EHF Διαχείρηση 2007
05. EHF Διαχείρηση 2007
10194
The Journal
The Journal of Headache and Pain Volume 8 · Supplement 1 · June 2007 · pp. S1-S44
of Headache
and Pain
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Supplement 1
June 2007
P R E FAC E
GUIDELINES
of Headache
2 European principles of management of common headache disorders in primary care
T.J. Steiner • K. Paemeleire • R. Jensen • D.Valade • L. Savi • M.J.A. Lainez • H.C. Diener •
P. Martelletti • E.G.M. Couturier
APPENDIX
and Pain 8 · S1
2007
21 The halt and hart indices
T.J. Steiner
European Headache Federation
25 Information for Patients
T.J. Steiner in collaboration with
Spedizione in a.p. – 45% – art. 2 comma 20/b legge 662/96 – Filiale di Milano
Aids for management of common
in collaboration with
This is a "Springer Open Choice" article. Unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium
is permitted, provided the original author and source are credited.
J Headache Pain (2007) 8:S2
P R E FA C E
T.J. Steiner Medical management of headache Whilst the focus of this publication
Chairman: Global Campaign Committee disorders, for the vast majority of is Europe, these management aids
Lifting The Burden people affected by them, can and have been developed to be useful
should be carried out in primary cross-culturally and may suit a
P. Martelletti
care. It does not require specialist wider population.
Editor-in-Chief
Journal of Headache and Pain skills. Nonetheless, it is recognised The European principles of
that non-specialists throughout management of common headache
Europe may have received limited disorders in primary care are the
training in the diagnosis and treat- essential core of these aids. These
ment of headache. are set out in 12 sections, each one
This special supplement of Journal more-or-less stand-alone. They are
of Headache and Pain is the out- supplemented in Appendices 1 and
put of a collaboration between the 2 by a measure of headache burden
European Headache Federation (the HALT index), intended for
(EHF) and Lifting The Burden: the pre-treatment assessment of illness
Global Campaign to Reduce the severity, an outcome measure (the
Burden of Headache Worldwide, a HART index), which is a guide to
programme for the benefit of peo- follow-up and need for treatment-
ple with headache conducted under review, and a series of patient
the auspices of the World Health information leaflets developed to
Organization. It contains a set of improve patients’ understanding of
management aids designed by vari- their headache disorders and their
ous specialist working groups management.
expressly to assist primary-care EHF and Lifting The Burden offer
physicians in managing a group of these aids freely available for use
very common disorders effectively. without restriction. They will need
We hope for benefits for both translating into many languages.
patients and physicians. In the first Therefore, also included, in
case, there should be better Appendix 3, are a set of translation
outcomes for the many people with protocols. These have been pre-
headache who need medical pared by a working group of
treatment. In the second, Lifting The Burden to ensure that
physicians are helped to deliver translations as far as possible are
appropriate care more efficiently unchanged in meaning from the
and more cost-effectively. English-language originals.
This work was performed under a collaborative arrangement between World Health Organization and World Headache Alliance,
International Headache Society and European Headache Federation
WHO, WHA, IHS, EHF
J Headache Pain (2007) 8:S3
GUIDELINES
T.J.Steiner
Division of Neuroscience and Mental Health,
Imperial College London, London, UK
K. Paemeleire
Department of Neurology, Ghent University
Hospital. Ghent, Belgium
R. Jensen
Danish Headache Centre, Department of
Neurology, University of Copenhagen, Glostrup
Hospital, Glostrup, Denmark
once the diagnosis has been made; management aid #6 Evidence-based recommendations were always preferred to
includes guidance on information to patients) those without explicit supporting evidence. Discordance
5. General aspects of headache management between recommendations was resolved through direct refer-
6. Advice to patients ence to original evidence or, where this was lacking, through
7. Medical management of acute migraine consensus of expert opinion.
8. Prophylactic management of migraine
9. Medical management of tension-type headache
10. Medical management of cluster headache Clarity and presentation
11. Management of medication-overuse headache
The aim was to give straightforward and easily-followed
Guide to referral (a reference and reminder) guidance to primary-care physicians who were assumed to be
12. Headache management in primary care: when to refer non-expert. There was recognition that availability and regu-
latory approval of drugs and reimbursement policies varied
These principles are supplemented by additional manage- from country to country. For that reason, different possible
ment aids developed by Lifting The Burden: options were considered and are set out wherever appropriate,
but otherwise the emphasis was on unambiguous advice.
• the Headache-Attributed Lost Time (HALT) index, a
measure of headache burden
• the Headache and Assessment of Response to Treatment Applicability
(HART) index, a measure of treatment effect and guide
to follow-up These principles assume that headache services are developed
• a series of patient information leaflets. and adequately resourced in all countries in Europe, even
though this is not the case at present. Separate initiatives by
EHF and Lifting The Burden are being undertaken to support
better organisation of headache services in all countries in
Development process Europe. These recommendations will be monitored by the
pilot group and reviewed annually by the development group.
Stakeholder involvement
Rigour of development
References
The development process was review of all treatment guide-
lines in use in Europe and published or otherwise available in 1. Stovner LJ, Hagen K, Jensen R et al (2007) The global burden
English, and harmonization through selection of whatever of headache: a documentation of headache prevalence and dis-
recommendations within them carried greatest weight. ability worldwide. Cephalalgia 27:193–210
S5
One patient may have more than one of these disorders con-
1. Headache as a presenting complaint comitantly.
Most people have occasional headache, and regard it as normal. There are a large number of other secondary headache dis-
Headache becomes a problem at some time in the lives of orders. Some of these are serious, and they must be recog-
about 40% of people in Europe. Four headache disorders are nized (see Management aid #4. Differential diagnosis of the
common in primary care (Table). All have a neurobiological common headache disorders), but overall they account for
basis. They are disabling and impair quality of life. <1% of patients presenting with headache.
Migraine usually episodic, occurring in 12-16% of the general population, in women more than men in a ratio of 3:1
Tension-type usually episodic, affecting >80% of people from time to time; in at least 10% it recurs frequently, and in 2-3% of adults
headache and some children it is chronic, occurring on more days than not
Cluster intense and frequently recurring but short-lasting headache attacks, affecting up to 3 in 1,000 men
headache and up to 1 in 2,000 women
Medication- a chronic daily headache syndrome occurring in up to 3% of adults, 5 women to each man, and 1% of
overuse children and adolescents; this is a secondary headache, but it occurs only as a complication of a pre-existing headache
headache disorder, usually migraine or tension-type headache
S6
Summary of features distinguishing the common headache disorders (NB: two or more may occur concomitantly)
Typical headache often unilateral can be unilateral but more often strictly unilateral, around the eye
characteristics and/or pulsating generalised; may be felt
in the neck;
Headache intensity typically moderate to severe typically mild to moderate very severe
Associated often nausea and/or vomiting; none strictly ipsilateral autonomic features:
symptoms any of red and watering eye, running
often photo- and/or phonophobia (mild nausea, but not vomiting, or blocked nostril, ptosis
may accompany chronic TTH)
4. Differential diagnosis of the common headache • aura without headache in the absence of a prior history of
disorders migraine with aura (may be a symptom of TIA or stroke)
• aura occurring for the first time in a patient during use of
Each of the primary headaches is in the differential diagno- combined oral contraceptives (indicates risk of stroke)
sis of each of the others. Medication-overuse headache is in • new headache in a patient older than 50 years (may be a
the differential diagnosis of migraine and tension-type symptom of temporal arteritis or intracranial tumour) or in
headache. a pre-pubertal child (requires specialist referral for diagno-
Otherwise, the differential diagnosis includes a small num- sis)
ber of serious secondary headaches that are important to • progressive headache, worsening over weeks or longer
recognise. (may indicate intracranial space-occupying lesion)
• headache associated with or aggravated by postural change
Warning features in the history or on examination or other manoeuvres that raise intracranial pressure (may
indicate intracranial tumour)
• headache that is new or unexpected in an individual • new headache in a patient with a history of cancer, HIV
patient, or develops new features infection or immunodeficiency (likely to be secondary
• thunderclap headache (intense headache with abrupt or headache)
“explosive” onset) (may be indicative of subarachnoid • otherwise unexplained pyrexia associated with headache
haemorrhage) (may indicate meningitis)
• headache with atypical aura (duration >1 hour, or includ- • focal neurological signs associated with headache (sug-
ing motor weakness) (may be symptoms of TIA or stroke) gests secondary headache)
S10
5. General aspects of headache management this may not be possible. Both genetic and environmental
factors contribute to processes that are not well under-
The following principles are generally important for all stood.
headache disorders managed in primary care. • Many patients seek help in identifying triggers. The
importance of trigger factors in migraine is over-empha-
Acknowledging impact sised. When they are relevant to individual patients, they
are usually self-evident. Triggers may be less readily
• Recurrent disabling headache is a burden on the person identified when they are cumulative in their effect, jointly
with it, and has an impact on other people. These include contributing to a “threshold” above which attacks are ini-
the family, work colleagues and employer. tiated. Even when identified, triggers are not always
• Recurrent disabling headache may lead to lifestyle compro- avoidable.
mise, either in response to attacks or in a bid to avoid them. • Contrary to popular belief, there is no “migraine diet”. The
In this way, episodic headache can have continuous impact. only dietary triggers with evidential support are alcohol
and monosodium glutamate.
The HALT index developed by Lifting The Burden (Appendix
1) is an instrument for assessing burden in terms of lost time. Follow-up
Realistic aims of management Every patient to whom treatment is offered, or whose treat-
ment is changed, requires follow-up in order to ensure that
• Headache disorders cannot be cured but can be effectively optimum treatment has been established.
managed in most cases. The use of an outcome measure is recommended. The HART
• They usually remit in old age. index (Appendix 1) is expressly to guide follow-up in pri-
mary care.
Reassurance and explanation Persistent management failure is an indication for specialist
referral.
• Many people with recurrent headache wrongly fear underly-
ing disease. Appropriate reassurance should never be omitted. Diaries and calendars
• Explanation is a crucial element of preventative manage-
ment in patients with migraine or frequent episodic ten- Diaries are recommended for:
sion-type headache who are at risk of escalating medica-
tion consumption. • recording symptoms and temporal patterns that contribute
to correct diagnosis
A series of patient information leaflets developed by Lifting • recording medication use and overuse
The Burden (Appendix 2) are currently available in Danish, • revealing associations with the menstrual cycle and other
Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and triggers.
Spanish. They provide basic explanations of migraine, ten-
sion-type headache, cluster headache and medication- Calendars are recommended for:
overuse headache and their treatment.
• encouraging compliance with prophylactic medication
Causes and triggers • recording treatment effect
• monitoring acute medication use or overuse during follow-up
• Whilst patients want to know the cause of their headache, • charting outcomes.
S11
6. Advice to patients • Cold packs applied to the head and/or neck are found by
some people to relieve pain or discomfort.
Patients with headache disorders commonly request infor- • Dental treatment, including splints and bite-raising appli-
mation. Many find or have found misleading information on ances, is of unproven value in treating headache and
the internet. should be discouraged for this purpose.
• Spectacles should be professionally prescribed and worn
Non-drug treatments when needed, but refractive errors are rarely a cause of
troublesome headache.
Patients enquiring about the following may be given this • Closure of patent foramen ovale (PFO): there is insuffi-
advice: cient evidence to support the hypothesis that migraine fre-
quency is improved by PFO closure, a procedure which
• Biofeedback and relaxation therapies can be helpful, carries a small but relevant risk of serious adverse events
and are potentially useful options when drug treatments including stroke, pericardial tamponade, atrial fibrillation
must be avoided. Their basis requires that only skilled and death. Further prospective trials are underway, and
therapists should provide them, but very few skilled thera- PFO closure should not be undertaken for migraine pro-
pists are available in most countries. phylaxis outside these trials.
• Physiotherapy has proven benefits in some patients with • Other surgical procedures on the face or neck produce
tension-type headache. It requires skilled and individu- no benefit and are potentially harmful.
alised therapy which is not widely available in many coun-
tries. Hormonal contraception and HRT
• Acupuncture benefits some people with migraine or ten-
sion-type headache although large clinical trials have Headache is often a side-effect of combined oral contracep-
failed to distinguish between acupuncture and sham proce- tives (COCs) and many women report onset or aggravation
dures. It requires skilled and individualised therapy. of migraine after starting them.
• Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) The following advice on hormonal contraception may be
may help in chronic pain but is of unproven value in treat- given to patients with migraine:
ing headache disorders.
• Herbals are mostly not recommended. Butterbur has some • both migraine with aura and the ethinyloestradiol compo-
efficacy according to clinical trials and is approved for use nent of COCs are independent risk factors for stroke in
in some countries but preparations on sale elsewhere are young women
variable in content and have uncertain toxicity. Feverfew • alternatives to COCs are recommended for women with
preparations on sale everywhere are highly variable in migraine with aura and additional risk factors for stroke
content and their toxicity is not well understood. (including smoking)
• Homoeopathy is of unproven value. There is no arguable • progestogen-only contraception is acceptable with any
case for over-the-counter sales of homoeopathic remedies. subtype of migraine.
• Reflexology has no scientific basis.
• Devices: many are on the market, some costly and pro- Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is not contraindicated
moted with unsupportable claims of efficacy. in migraine; decisions about commencing or continuing
“Testimonials” can be attributed to placebo effect and HRT should be made according to generally applicable crite-
should be disregarded. ria.
S12
Lifting The Burden has produced a series of patient informa- WHA is a charitable umbrella organisation. Its website car-
tion leaflets on the common headache disorders and their ries much information for people with headache, and links
treatment and one on female hormones and headache to many other helpful sites including those of its member
(Appendix 2). These are currently available in Danish, Dutch, organisations in 26 countries.
English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish.
For more information, visit www.w-h-a.org
S13
All adults with migraine should have access to acute med- • use soluble analgesics, or mouth-dispersible formulations
ication. • take early in the attack, in adequate dosage
Children with short-lasting attacks may respond well to bed- • a prokinetic antiemetic inhibits gastric stasis, an early fea-
rest without medical treatment. ture of migraine that impairs bioavailability of oral med-
In adults and children, regular use of acute medication at ication
high frequency (on >2 days/week) risks the development of • rectal administration may be preferable in the presence of
medication-overuse headache. vomiting:
- analgesic suppositories (any of diclofenac 100 mg,
ibuprofen 400 mg, ketoprofen 100-200 mg or naproxen
Drug intervention 500-1000 mg)
- if needed, antiemetic suppositories (either domperidone
All patients should climb a treatment ladder (stepped man- 30 mg or metoclopramide 20 mg).
agement), usually treating three attacks at each step before
proceeding to the next. This strategy, if followed correctly, Step one for children (when needed)
reliably achieves the most effective and cost-effective indi-
vidualised care. • analgesic: ibuprofen 200-400 mg according to age and
weight
Step one: symptomatic therapy • antiemetic: domperidone 10-20 mg according to age and
weight.
• simple analgesic
Step two: specific therapy
• plus, if needed, an antiemetic.
Specific anti-migraine drugs, formulations and
doses available for step two
Analgesics Antiemetics
(availability varies from country to country)
acetylsalicylic acid 900-1000 mg domperidone 20 mg or
almotriptan tablets 12.5 mg
(adults only) or metoclopramide 10 mg eletriptan tablets 20 mg and 40 mg (80 mg may be
ibuprofen 400-800 mg or effective when 40 mg is not)
diclofenac 50-100 mg or frovatriptan tablets 2.5 mg
ketoprofen 100 mg or naratriptan tablets 2.5 mg
naproxen 500-1000 mg rizatriptan tablets 10 mg (and 5 mg, to be used when
or (where these are propranolol is being taken concomitantly);
contraindicated) mouth-dispersible wafers 10 mg
paracetamol 1000 mg sumatriptan tablets and rapidly dissolving tablets 50 mg
and 100 mg; suppositories 25 mg; nasal spray
10 mg (licensed for adolescents) and 20 mg;
subcutaneous injection 6 mg
Local guidelines may recommend trying more than one
zolmitriptan tablets 2.5 mg and 5 mg; mouth-dispersible
analgesic in step one before proceeding to step two.
tablets 2.5 mg and 5 mg; nasal spray 5 mg
Paracetamol has limited evidence of efficacy and is not first-
ergotamine tartrate tablets 1 mg and 2 mg; suppositories 2 mg
line treatment.
S14
• where available, and unless contra-indicated, triptans • limited evidence suggests that either of the following may
should be offered to all patients failing step one prevent some relapses:
• ergotamine has very low and unpredictable bioavailabili- - concomitant use of a triptan and an NSAID
ty, which impairs its efficacy, and complex pharmacology - use of a triptan followed by an NSAID 6-12 hours later.
and long duration of action, which lead to poor tolerabili-
ty Contraindications to step two
• triptans should not be used regularly on more than 10 days
per month to avoid the risk of medication-overuse Pregnancy is a general contraindication to ergotamine and to
headache all triptans. There are specific precautions attached to some
• triptans differ slightly, but there are large and unpre- triptans (see pharmacopoeia).
dictable individual variations in response to them; one All triptans and ergots should be avoided by people with:
may work where another has not; patients should try sev- • uncontrolled hypertension
eral, in different formulations, and choose between them • coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease and periph-
• the initial dose of all oral triptans (except, in some cases, eral vascular disease
eletriptan) is one tablet • multiple risk factors for coronary or cerebrovascular disease.
• a second dose for non-response is not recommended by
most triptan manufacturers but, taken not less than 2 hours Step two for children
after the first, may be effective in some cases
• triptans are more effective when taken whilst headache is No specific anti-migraine drug has been shown to have effica-
still mild (this instruction should be given only to patients cy in children (under 12 years old). Failure of step one is an
who can reliably distinguish migraine from tension-type indication for specialist referral.
headache)
• when nausea is present, domperidone 20 mg or metoclo- Follow-up
pramide 10 mg may be added
• when vomiting is present, sumatriptan suppositories, Every patient to whom treatment is offered, or whose treat-
zolmitriptan nasal spray (absorbed through the nasal ment is changed, requires follow-up in order to ensure that
mucosa) or sumatriptan subcutaneous injection may be optimum treatment has been established. Use of a calendar is
preferred recommended to monitor acute medication use or overuse and
• when all other triptans are ineffective, sumatriptan by sub- record treatment effect. The use of an outcome measure is rec-
cutaneous injection 6 mg should be considered ommended. The HART index (Appendix 1) is expressly to
• triptans are associated with return of symptoms within 48 guide follow-up in primary care. Failure of acute therapy may
hours (relapse) in up to 40% of patients who have initial- be an indication for prophylaxis (see Management aid #8.
ly responded. Prophylactic management of migraine).
• a second dose of a triptan is usually effective Lifting The Burden has produced an information leaflet on
• this second dose may lead to further relapse (when this migraine and its treatment (Appendix 2). This is currently
happens repeatedly, the triptan should be changed) available in Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian,
• NSAIDs may be an effective alternative. Portuguese and Spanish.
S15
Any patient whose quality of life is impaired by migraine, • A calendar should be kept by every patient on prophylax-
whether adult or child, may require prophylaxis in addition is to assess efficacy and promote compliance.
to acute medication. • Poor compliance is a major factor impairing efficacy of
migraine prophylactics; once-daily dosing is associated
Indications for prophylaxis with better compliance.
• The dose of any drug should start low in the suggested range
Prophylactic therapy may be added when: and be increased in the absence of troublesome side-effects.
• attacks cause disability on two or more days per month, • Drugs that appear ineffective should not be discontinued
and too soon; 2-3 months may be the minimum to achieve and
• optimised acute therapy does not prevent this, and observe efficacy.
• the patient is willing to take daily medication. • Failure of one drug does not predict failure of others in a
different class.
Other indications for prophylaxis are: • Tapered withdrawal may be considered after 6 months of
• risk of over-frequent use of acute therapy, even when it is good control, and should be considered no later than after
effective (but prophylactic drugs are inappropriate for 1 year.
medication-overuse headache) • Amitriptyline may be preferred when migraine coexists with
• for children with frequent absences from school. tension-type headache, depression or sleep disturbance.
• Propranolol has best evidence of safety during pregnancy.
Effective drugs
Prophylaxis in children
Prophylactic drugs with good evidence of efficacy • Beta-blockers (dosage adjusted according to body weight) or
(availability and regulatory approval vary from country flunarizine (dosage adjusted according to age) may be tried.
to country; use of drugs off-licence rests on individual
clinical responsibility) Follow-up
beta-adrenergic atenolol 25-100 mg bd or Every patient to whom prophylactic treatment is offered, or
blockers without bisoprolol 5-10 mg od or
whose treatment is changed, requires follow-up in order to
partial agonism metoprolol 50-100 mg bd or
propranolol LA 80 mg od-160 mg bd ensure that optimum treatment has been established.
Use of a calendar is recommended to encourage compliance
topiramate 25 mg od-50 mg bd with prophylactic medication and record treatment effect.
The use of an outcome measure is recommended. The
flunarizine 5-10 mg od HART index (Appendix 1) is expressly to guide follow-up
in primary care.
sodium valproate 600-1500 mg daily
If prophylaxis fails
amitriptyline 10-100 mg nocte
• failure may be due to subtherapeutic dosage or insufficient
All of these drugs have contra-indications and side-effects duration of treatment
(refer to pharmacopoeia). • review the diagnosis
S16
Drug therapy has limited scope in tension-type headache • Intolerance is reduced by starting at a low dose (10 mg)
but, within these limitations, is effective in many patients. and incrementing by 10-25 mg each 1-2 weeks.
Either acute medication or prophylaxis may be indicated. • A calendar should be kept to assess efficacy and promote
Acute medication should be used with care when headache compliance.
is frequent because of the risk of medication overuse. • Prophylaxis that appears ineffective should not be dis-
continued too soon; 2-3 months may be the minimum to
achieve and observe efficacy.
Acute intervention • Tapered withdrawal may be considered after 6 months of
good control, but prolonged treatment is sometimes indicated.
• Symptomatic treatment with over-the-counter analgesics
is appropriate for episodic tension-type headache occur- Follow-up
ring on ≤ 2 days per week:
- acetylsalicylic acid 600-1000 mg (adults only) Every patient to whom treatment is offered, or whose treat-
- ibuprofen 400-800 mg ment is changed, requires follow-up in order to ensure that
- paracetamol 1000 mg is less effective. optimum treatment has been established. Use of a calendar is
• Episodic tension-type headache on >2 days per week is recommended to monitor acute medication use or overuse, or
an indication for prophylaxis in place of, rather than in to encourage compliance with prophylactic medication, and
addition to, acute intervention. to record treatment effect. The use of an outcome measure is
• These treatments are unlikely to be effective in chronic recommended. The HART index (Appendix 1) is expressly to
tension-type headache and put the patient at risk of med- guide follow-up in primary care.
ication-overuse headache.
If prophylaxis fails
Principles of acute intervention
• failure may be due to subtherapeutic dosage or insuffi-
• Opioids should be avoided; in particular: cient duration of treatment
- codeine and dihydrocodeine • review the diagnosis
- dextropropoxyphene • review compliance (patients who are not informed that
- combination analgesics containing any of these. they are receiving medication often used as an antide-
• Barbiturates have no place in the treatment of tension- pressant, and told why, may default when they find out)
type headache. • review other medication, especially for overuse
• As the frequency of headaches increases, so does the risk • when prophylaxis still fails to have clear benefit, discon-
of medication overuse. tinue it
• if all options fail, specialist referral is indicated.
Prophylaxis
Pain management
• Amitriptyline, 10-100 mg at night, is the drug of choice
for frequent episodic or chronic tension-type headache. Despite best efforts, chronic tension-type headache is often
• Nortriptyline causes fewer anticholinergic side-effects refractory to medical treatment.
but has less good evidence of efficacy (amitriptyline can Patients in this situation require a pain management pro-
be replaced by nortriptyline at the same dose). gramme with emphasis on psychological approaches.
S18
Lifting The Burden has produced an information leaflet on Patients may ask about this treatment.
tension-type headache and its treatment (Appendix 2). This There is insufficient evidence to support the efficacy of
is currently available in Danish, Dutch, English, French, Botox in tension-type headache. This treatment is not cur-
German, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish. rently recommended.
S19
10. Medical management of cluster headache Drugs used by specialists in cluster headache prophylaxis
(all are potentially toxic: refer to pharmacopoeia)
Cluster headache management is usually better left to experi-
verapamil 240-960 mg daily ECG monitoring is advised
enced specialists who see this disorder frequently. Recognition
in primary care is crucial to ensure prompt referral. The objec- prednisolone 60-80 mg od may need repeating because
tive in both episodic and chronic cluster headache is total for 2-4 days, discontinued of relapse during dose reduction
attack suppression. This is not always achievable. Both acute by dose reduction over
medication and prophylaxis have a role in management, but 2-3 weeks
preventative drugs are the mainstay of treatment in most cases.
lithium carbonate levels must be monitored
Acute therapies 600-1600 mg daily
Principles
Follow-up
• drugs in the table are used by specialists, balancing effi-
cacy against toxicity Every patient with active cluster headache requires frequent
• prophylaxis of episodic cluster headache should begin as follow-up both to ensure that optimum treatment is main-
early as possible after the start of a new cluster bout and tained and to monitor for treatment toxicity.
(except for prednisolone, which is used in short courses
only) should be discontinued by tapering 2 weeks after
full remission Information for patients
• for chronic cluster headache, treatments may need to be
continued long-term Lifting The Burden has produced an information leaflet on
• failure of one drug does not predict failure of others cluster headache and its treatment (Appendix 2). This is
• combinations may be tried, but the potential for toxicity currently available in Danish, Dutch, English, French,
is obviously high. German, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish.
S20
11. Management of medication-overuse headache should be planned to avoid unnecessary lifestyle disrup-
tion (1-2 weeks’ sick leave may be needed)
Medication-overuse headache is an aggravation of a prior • after 1-2 weeks, usually, headache shows signs of
primary headache by chronic overuse of medication taken improvement
to treat it. • recovery continues slowly for weeks to months.
Once this condition has developed, early intervention is
important. The long-term prognosis depends on the dura- Follow-up
tion of medication overuse.
• every patient withdrawing from medication requires fol-
Management low-up in order to provide support and observe outcome
• first review is advised after 2-3 weeks to ensure with-
• Prevention, through education, is better than cure. drawal has been achieved
• The only effective treatment of established medication- • use of a calendar is strongly recommended to record
overuse headache is withdrawal of the suspected medica- symptoms and medication use during withdrawal, and to
tion(s). record changing headache pattern
• most patients revert to their original headache type
Objectives (migraine or tension-type headache) within 2 months;
this will need review and appropriate management
There are four separate objectives in the complete manage- • further follow-up is important to avoid relapse, and most
ment of MOH, and all are important: patients require extended support: the relapse rate is
around 40% within five years.
• the first is to achieve withdrawal from the overused med-
ication Re-introducing withdrawn medication
• the second, which should follow, is recovery from MOH
• the third is to review and reassess the underlying primary • withdrawn medications should subsequently be avoided
headache disorder (migraine or tension-type headache) as far as is possible
• the fourth is to prevent relapse. • when needed, they may be cautiously reintroduced after 2
months
Principles • frequency of use should never exceed 2 days/week on a
regular basis.
• clear explanation that the “treatment” a patient is taking
for headache is actually the cause of it is vital to success Information for patients
• patients may be reassured that the outcome of withdraw-
al is usually good Lifting The Burden has produced an information leaflet on
• with forewarning, withdrawal is most successfully done medication-overuse headache and its management
abruptly; admission to hospital is rarely necessary. (Appendix 2). This is currently available in Danish, Dutch,
• withdrawal leads initially to worsening headache, so English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish.
S21
12. Headache management in primary care: when to refer . new headache in a patient with a history of cancer,
HIV infection or immunodeficiency
Most primary headaches, and medication-overuse headache, - unusual migraine aura, especially:
can best be managed in primary care. . aura with duration >1 hour
. aura featuring motor weakness
Reasons for specialist referral: . aura without headache in the absence of a prior
• diagnostic uncertainty after due enquiry history of migraine with aura
• diagnosis of cluster headache (most cases are best man- . aura first occurring with use of combined oral
aged by specialists) contraceptives
• suspicion of serious secondary headache, or cases where - progressively worsening headache over weeks or longer
investigation may be necessary to exclude serious pathol- - headache associated with postural change indicative of
ogy (referral may need to be immediate): high or low intracranial pressure
- any headache that is new or unexpected in an individual - headache associated with unexplained fever
patient, but especially: - headache associated with unexplained physical signs
. newly-occurring thunderclap headache (intense • persistent management failure
headache with abrupt or “explosive” onset) • comorbid disorders requiring specialist management
. new headache in a patient older than 50 years • presence of risk factors for coronary heart disease may
. new headache in a pre-pubertal child warrant cardiological referral prior to use of triptans.
J Headache Pain (2007) 8:S22
APPENDIX 1
T.J. Steiner
Introduction that more should be done, may be
Chairman: Global Campaign
Committee Lifting The Burden Assessment of a headache disorder as “What is it that needs changing?”
a prelude to planning best manage- An international working group* of
ment requires more than diagnosis: Lifting The Burden is developing the
there should be some measure or esti- Headache Under-Response to
mation of the impact of the disorder Treatment (HURT) index, an outcome
on the patient’s life and lifestyle. measure that is designed to aid man-
There are many ways in which recur- agement by suggesting answers to
rent or persistent headache can dam- these two questions. This index will
age life. Finding a simple measure be published later, elsewhere. The
that summarises these in a single instrument that is included here is its
index, and which is equally applicable forerunner, pending validation. To dis-
for all of the common headache disor- tinguish between them, it is referred to
ders, is quite a challenge. The MIDAS as the Headache and Assessment of
instrument developed by Stewart and Response to Treatment (HART) index.
Lipton [1] has proved extremely use-
ful. The concept behind it is simple *Lifting The Burden Working group
enough: it estimates active time lost on Outcome Measures:
through the disabling effect of R. Lipton (chairman) (USA), M. Al
headache, and the result is expressed Jumah (Saudi Arabia), B. Eggleston
by a number with intuitively meaning- (Australia), M. Fontebasso (UK), L.
ful units (hours). Gardella (Argentina), R. Jensen
The HALT index is a direct and close (Denmark), H. Kettinen (Finland),
derivative of MIDAS. It was devel- M.J.A. Láinez (Spain), F. Mennini
oped by Lifting The Burden to use (Italy), M. Peters (Netherlands/UK), K.
wording that is more easily translated. Ravishankar (India), F. Sakai (Japan),
N. Sharma (India), TJ. Steiner (UK),
Whenever treatment is started, or W. Stewart (USA), A.D. Tehindrazana-
changed, follow-up ensures that opti- rivelo (Madagascar/France), D. Valade
mum treatment has been established (France), M. Von Korff (USA), S.Y. Yu
or recognizes that it has not and iden- (PR China)
tifies any further change to treatment
that may be needed.
It is not always easy to know whether
or not the outcome that has been
achieved by an individual patient is Reference
the best that the patient can reasonably 1. Stewart WF, Lipton RB, Kolodner K et
expect. For the non-specialist, one al (2000) Validity of the Migraine
question that sometimes arises is: Disability Assessment (MIDAS) score
“What further effort, in hope of a bet- in comparison to a diary-based measure
ter outcome, is justified?” A second in a population sample of migraine suf-
question, which follows if it is thought ferers. Pain 88:41–52
S23
1 On how many days in the last three months could you not go
to work or school because of your headaches?
3 On how many days in the last three months could you not do
any household work because of your headaches?
4 On how many days in the last three months could you do less
than half your usual amount of household work because
of your headaches? (Do not include days you counted
in question 3 where you did not do household work.)
5 On how many days in the last three months did you miss
family, social or leisure activities because of your headaches?
* HALT is closely based on the first five questions of MIDAS, developed by R.B. Lipton and W.F. Stewart
S24
Your medical treatment for your headaches may not be as good as it can be.
By completing this short questionnaire, you will help your doctor or nurse improve it.
Analysis (these questions establish frequency of all headaches and of disabling headaches under current
treatment; ticks towards the right suggest increasing need for treatment review)
Headache disorders are real – they are not just in the mind.
If headache bothers you, it needs medical attention. The purpose of this leaflet is to help you
understand your headache, your diagnosis and your treatment, and to work with your doctor
or nurse in a way that will get best results for you.
there is a separate leaflet on it which you can ask for if you that you find difficult or impossible to control.
are worried about it. To avoid this happening, never take
medication to treat headache symptoms regularly on more Keep a diary
than two or three days a week. Diary cards can record a lot of relevant information about
your headaches – how often you get them, when they hap-
What if these don’t work? pen, how long they last and what your symptoms are. They
If frequent or severe attacks are not well controlled with are valuable in helping with diagnosis, identifying trigger
acute treatment, so-called prophylactic medication is an factors and assessing how well treatments work.
option. Unlike acute treatment, you should take this daily
because it works in a totally different way – by preventing What if I think I may be pregnant?
the migraine process starting. In other words, it raises your You will need advice from your doctor or nurse. Some of the
migraine threshold. medications used for migraine are unsuitable if you are
Your doctor or nurse can give you advice on the choice of pregnant.
medicines available and their likely side-effects. Most were
first developed for quite different conditions, so do not be Do I need any tests?
surprised if you are offered a medication described as treat- Most cases of migraine are easy to recognize. There are no
ment for high blood pressure, epilepsy or even depression. tests to confirm the diagnosis, which is based on your
This is not why you are taking it. These medications work description of your headaches and the lack of any abnormal
against migraine too. findings when your doctor examines you. A brain scan is
If you are taking one of these, do follow the instructions unlikely to help. If your doctor is at all unsure about the
carefully. Research has shown that a very common reason diagnosis, he or she may ask for tests to rule out other caus-
for this type of medication not working is that patients for- es of headaches, but these are not often needed.
get to take it.
Will my migraine get better?
What else can I do to help myself? There is no known cure for migraine. However, for most peo-
Exercising regularly and keeping fit will benefit you. ple with migraine, attacks become less frequent in later life.
Avoiding predisposing and trigger factors is sensible, so you Meanwhile, doing all you can to follow the advice in this
should be aware of the full range of possible triggers. You leaflet can make the change from a condition that is out of
may be able to avoid some triggers even if there are others control to one that you can control.
Headache disorders are real – they are not just in the mind.
If headache bothers you, it needs medical attention. The purpose of this leaflet is to help you
understand your headache, your diagnosis and your treatment, and to work with your doctor
or nurse in a way that will get best results for you.
mon in people who do not take much exercise compared available and their likely side-effects. Most were first devel-
with those who do. Try walking wherever possible, or take oped for quite different conditions, so do not be surprised if
stairs rather than the lift, so that exercise becomes a routine you are offered a medication described as treatment for
part of your life. depression or epilepsy, or as a muscle relaxant. This is not
Treat depression. If you feel that you are depressed more why you are taking it. These medications work in tension-
often than not, it is important to ask for medical advice and type headache too, as they do in other painful conditions.
get effective treatment. If you are taking one of these, do follow the instructions care-
fully. Research has shown that a very common reason for this
Keep a diary type of medication not working is that patients forget to take it.
Diary cards can record a lot of relevant information about Because posture sometimes plays a role in tension-type
your headaches – how often you get them, when they hap- headache, and because of the muscles involved, your doctor
pen, how long they last and what your symptoms are. They or nurse may suggest physiotherapy to the head and neck.
are valuable in helping with diagnosis, identifying trigger This can help some people greatly.
factors and assessing how well treatments work. Other non-drug approaches include transcutaneous electri-
cal nerve stimulation (TENS) (which is a treatment for
Take painkillers if needed … pain), relaxation therapy including biofeedback or yoga, and
Simple painkillers such as aspirin or ibuprofen usually work acupuncture. These are not suitable for everybody, do not
well in episodic tension-type headache. Paracetamol is less work for everyone, and are not available everywhere. Again,
effective but suits some people. your doctor or nurse will give you advice.
Headache disorders are real – they are not just in the mind.
If headache bothers you, it needs medical attention. The purpose of this leaflet is to help you
understand your headache, your diagnosis and your treatment, and to work with your doctor
or nurse in a way that will get best results for you.
What is cluster headache? pens daily for limited periods (episodes) and then stops, a
feature giving rise to the term “cluster”. Usually these peri-
"They often wake me in the middle of the night, a couple ods last from six to 12 weeks, but they can end after two
of hours after I’ve gone to bed. They build up in a matter weeks or go on for anything up to six months. They tend to
of seconds and the pain is just excruciating. It’s only in come at about the same time each year, often spring or
my right eye, like a red hot poker. I don’t know where to autumn, but some people have two or three episodes every
put myself. I have to do something to distract from the year and others have gaps of two or more years between
pain. Sometimes I pace up and down the room holding episodes.
my head, or just sit in the chair and rock." In between, people with episodic cluster headache have no
symptoms of the condition at all.
Cluster headache is the name given to short-lasting attacks of Chronic cluster headache, which accounts for about one in
very severe one-sided head pain, usually in or around the 10 cases of cluster headache, does not stop. Daily or near-
eye. These usually start without warning, one or more times daily attacks continue year after year without a break.
every day, generally at the same times each day or during the Episodic cluster headache can turn into chronic cluster
night. Quite often, the first one will wake the person up an headache, and vice versa.
hour or so after falling asleep.
Cluster headache is sometimes said to be a type of migraine, What are the symptoms of cluster headache?
but this is not so. It is a quite distinct headache and needs dif- There are a highly recognizable group of symptoms. Most
ferent treatment from migraine. importantly, cluster headache is excruciatingly painful. The
pain is strictly one-sided and always on the same side
Who gets cluster headache? (although in episodic cluster headache it can switch sides
Cluster headache is not common. It affects up to three in from one episode to another). It is in, around or behind the
every 1,000 people. Men are five times more likely than eye and described as searing, knife-like or boring. It
women to have cluster headache, which makes it unusual becomes worse very quickly, reaching full force within five
among headache disorders. The first attack is likely to hap- to 10 minutes, and when untreated lasts between 15 minutes
pen between the ages of 20 and 40, but cluster headache can and three hours (most commonly between 30 and 60 min-
start at any age. utes). In marked contrast to migraine, during which most
people want to lie down and keep as quiet as possible, clus-
What are the different types of cluster headache? ter headache causes agitation. People with this condition
Episodic cluster headache is more common. This type hap- cannot keep still – they will pace around or rock violently
S33
backwards and forwards, even going outside. There are a number of treatments for cluster headache
Also, the eye on the painful side becomes red and waters which often work well. They all need a doctor’s prescrip-
and the eyelid may droop. The nostril feels blocked, or runs. tion. The most usual treatments for the attack are 100%
The other side of the head is completely unaffected. oxygen, which needs a cylinder, high-flow regulator and
mask from a supplier, or an injected drug called sumatrip-
What causes cluster headache? tan, which you can give to yourself using a special injec-
Despite a great deal of medical research into the cause of tion device.
cluster headache, it is still not known. Much interest centres Preventative medications are the best treatments for most
on the timing of attacks, which appears to link to circadian people with cluster headache. You take these every day for
rhythms (the biological clock). Recent research has high- the length of the cluster episode to stop the headaches
lighted changes in a part of the brain known as the hypothal- returning. They are effective, but you do need rather close
amus, the area that controls the body clock. medical supervision, often with blood tests, because of the
Many people with cluster headache are or have been heavy possible side-effects. You may be referred to a specialist
smokers. How this may contribute to causing cluster for this. The referral should be urgent because, if you have
headache, if it does, is not known. Stopping smoking is this condition, we know you are suffering greatly.
always a good thing for health reasons, but it rarely has any
effect on the condition. What if these don’t work?
There are a range of preventative medications. If one does
What are the triggers? not work very well, another may. Sometimes, two or more
So-called triggers set off a headache attack. Alcohol, even a are used together.
small amount, may trigger an attack of cluster headache dur-
ing a cluster episode but not at other times. We do not under- What can I do to help myself?
stand how this happens. There do not appear to be other com- Ordinary painkillers do not work – they take too long, and
mon trigger factors. the headache will usually have run its course before they
take effect. For effective treatment, you will need to ask for
Do I need any tests? medical help. Do this at the start of a cluster episode, as
Because of its set of symptoms, cluster headache is easy to treatment appears to be more successful when started then.
recognize. There are no tests to confirm the diagnosis, which
is based on your description of the headaches and other Keep a diary
symptoms and the lack of any abnormal findings when your You can use diary cards to record a lot of relevant informa-
doctor examines you. Therefore, it is very important to tion about your headaches – how often you get them, when
describe your symptoms carefully. they happen, how long they last and what your symptoms
If your doctor is not sure about the diagnosis, tests including are. They are valuable in helping with diagnosis, identify-
a brain scan may be carried out to rule out other causes of ing trigger factors and assessing how well treatments work.
headaches. However, these are not often needed. If your doc-
tor does not ask for a brain scan, it means that it will not help Will my cluster headache get better?
to give you the best treatment. Cluster headache may return for many years. However, it
seems to improve in later life for most people, particularly
What treatments are there? those with chronic cluster headache.
Headache disorders are real – they are not just in the mind.
If headache bothers you, it needs medical attention. The purpose of this leaflet is to help you
understand your headache, your diagnosis and your treatment, and to work with your doctor
or nurse in a way that will get best results for you.
sudden change in your headache, tests including a brain What can I do to help myself?
scan may be carried out to rule out other causes of your The only way of treating this condition is to stop the
headache. However, these are not often needed. If your overused medication (withdrawal). Clinical studies show
doctor does not ask for a brain scan, it means that it will that most people who withdraw from overused medication
not help to give you the best treatment. improve greatly. However, it can take up to three months
before you see the full benefit. Even if headaches continue
What is medication-overuse headache? after that time, despite stopping the medication, their cause
Any medication you use to treat the symptoms of headache, usually becomes clear and they will respond better to cor-
when taken too often for too long, can cause medication- rectly-prescribed specific treatment.
overuse headache. Aspirin, paracetamol, ibuprofen, You can withdraw either by stopping in one go or by grad-
codeine - in fact, all painkillers, even those bought over the ually reducing the amount taken over two to three weeks.
counter - are associated with this problem. And it is not just Whichever way you choose, drink plenty of fluids while
painkillers. Drugs that specifically treat migraine headache doing this (but avoid taking more caffeine). If you stop in
also lead to this problem when used too often. These one go, you will almost certainly have withdrawal symp-
include triptans and, most of all, ergotamine. toms – worsening headache, feeling sick, perhaps being
A similar headache (although not strictly medication- sick, anxiety and difficulty sleeping. These symptoms will
overuse headache) can result from taking too much caf- appear within 48 hours and may last, at worst, for up to
feine. The usual source of this is coffee, tea or cola drinks, two weeks. However, people who try to stop slowly seem
but it can come from caffeine tablets or from caffeine more likely to fail, perhaps because it takes so much
included in many painkillers. longer.
The exact way medication-overuse headache develops is It makes sense to choose when to withdraw, and not begin
not known, and may be different according to the nature of shortly before an important event. Do warn your work col-
the medication. Triptans and ergotamine may cause a leagues that you may be unable to come into work for a
rebound effect, with headache returning after they wear few days.
off. Painkillers are believed to cause, over time, a change
in pain-signalling systems in the brain. This means they What if I just carry on as I am?
become used to the effects of the medication so that you If medication overuse is causing your frequent headaches,
need more and more of it. carrying on as you are is not an option. You will continue
For most people with occasional headaches, painkillers to have ever-more frequent headaches, which will not
are a safe and effective treatment. However, medication- respond to painkillers or to preventative medicine.
overuse headache may develop in anyone taking headache Eventually you may do yourself other harm as well, such
treatments regularly on more than three days a week. as damage to your liver and kidneys.
Usually, the person with medication-overuse headache
begins with occasional attacks of tension-type headache or Are there other treatments I can take?
(more commonly) migraine. For varying reasons, the There are medications, which a doctor can prescribe, that you
headaches begin to happen more often. This may be can take every day to help you withdraw. They work only if you
through natural variation or because an extra headache has stop all other headache medication, and even then it is uncer-
developed, perhaps due to stress or muscular pain. The tain how much they help. You will also have to stop these at
increase in headache leads to use of more medication to try some point, and, for most people, it is better to do without them.
to control the symptoms, eventually until both happen
every day. How can I make sure it doesn’t happen again?
Many people in this situation know that they are taking As it develops, medication-overuse headache largely replaces
more medication than is wise, and try to reduce the the original headache (migraine or tension-type headache) for
amount. This leads them to have a withdrawal syndrome of which you took the medication in the first place. This means
worsening headache, for which they take more medication. that, as your medication-overuse headache improves after
It is easy to see how this results in a vicious cycle, which withdrawal, you can expect your original type of headache to
can be difficult to break. It makes not so much difference return.
how much you take – if you regularly use the full dose of There are separate leaflets on both migraine and tension-type
painkillers on one or two days a week only, you are unlike- headache. You may find one of these useful at this stage.
ly to develop medication-overuse headache. However, take If you need to, you can cautiously restart using medication for
just a couple of painkillers on most days and you may well this headache once the pattern of headache has returned to
be making your headaches worse. It is frequent use over a normal. This is likely to be after at least several weeks. Be
period of time that causes the problem. careful, because there is a risk of following the same path as
S36
before. To prevent this, avoid treating headaches on more than Keep a diary
three days in a row or on a regular basis on three or more days You can use diary cards to record a lot of relevant infor-
in a week. Always read the leaflet and packaging that come mation about your headaches – how often you get them,
with any medicine. when they happen, how long they last and what your symp-
If a headache doesn’t get better, or keeps returning, never toms are. They are valuable in helping with diagnosis and
continue taking medication without consulting your doctor in assessing how well treatments work.
or nurse. For people at risk of medication-overuse headache, diaries
See your doctor or nurse if frequent headaches do not are especially important as they help keep track of just how
go, or if they return again in the future. much medication you are taking.
Headache disorders are real – they are not just in the mind.
If headache bothers you, it needs medical attention.
The changing pattern of hormones throughout a woman’s life, from puberty to the menopause,
has an important effect on migraine and other headaches. Knowing what to expect can help
women understand why headaches occur and, importantly, when to seek help.
medications. In most cases, headaches of this sort improve pregnancy. If migraine happens for the first time during
after a few months, and they are rarely a reason to stop pregnancy, it is likely to be migraine with aura.
contraception. There is no evidence that headaches or migraine, either
Women who have migraine without aura before they start with or without aura, have any effect on the outcome of
the contraceptive pill often notice that they get their pregnancy or on the baby's growth and development. It is,
attacks during the pill-free interval. During the pill-free of course, important to make sure that any treatments taken
week, estrogen levels drop – just as they do for menstrual for headaches are safe. Few drugs have been tested for
migraine, and with the same effect. safety in pregnancy and during breastfeeding. In fact,
Combined hormonal contraceptives should not be given to paracetamol (when used correctly) is the only medication
women with migraine with aura. This is because the estro- shown to be safe throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding.
gen in the contraceptives can increase the risk of a stroke. Unfortunately this is not the most effective treatment,
If 100,000 women under the age of 35 who have migraine especially for migraine, and even paracetamol should not
aura started using combined hormonal contraception, we be taken too often. However, there are other medications
would expect around 28 to have a stroke within the next that can be taken under medical supervision. If you feel
year. If the same group did not have migraine and did not you need to take any other drugs for headaches, check with
use combined hormonal contraception, only one woman your doctor first.
would be expected to have a stroke within the next year.
Although the risk of a stroke is very low in women Headaches, the menopause
younger than 50, it is sensible not to increase it since there and hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
are many choices of other methods of contraception. In the years leading up to the menopause, the ovaries pro-
Several of these are even more effective contraceptives duce less and less estrogen. During this time of hormonal
than the combined hormonal methods, so the increased risk imbalance, migraine and other headaches often become
is entirely avoidable. more frequent or severe. For most women, they settle
If a woman with migraine without aura starts to have again after the menopause, possibly because the hormonal
migraine with aura after beginning combined hormonal fluctuations stop and the concentration of estrogen sta-
contraceptives, she should stop taking them immediately. bilises at a lower level.
Furthermore, she should seek medical advice - particularly Few studies have looked at the effect of HRT on
since she may also need emergency contraception. There is headaches, but the decision to take HRT or not can be
a separate leaflet explaining what migraine without aura made regardless of headaches. Unlike the synthetic estro-
and migraine with aura are. Ask your doctor or nurse if you gens in contraceptives, the natural estrogens in HRT do not
would like to have this. appear to increase the risk of a stroke in women with
Progestogen-only methods (pills, implants, injectable migraine with aura. It is reported that migraine is more
preparations and intrauterine methods) do not increase the likely to worsen with oral HRT and improve with non-oral
risk of a stroke but have varying effects on headaches. HRT such as patches or gels. Too high an estrogen dose
Most evidence suggests that, if the method “switches off” can trigger migraine aura, which calls for a reduction in
normal periods, headaches usually improve. dose. Whichever type of HRT you start with, it is important
to give it an adequate trial; the first three months are a time
Headaches, pregnancy and breastfeeding of imbalance as the body becomes used to the change of
Fortunately, most women find that headaches improve dur- hormones.
ing the latter part of pregnancy. This is especially likely for Many women use non-prescription remedies to treat hot
migraine without aura. The benefit may continue through flushes. There is some evidence that dietary estrogens
breastfeeding. (isoflavones such as in soya products) help menopausal
In the first few months of pregnancy, however, headaches symptoms as well as migraine, so it is worth increasing
may be worse. One reason is that sickness, particularly intake of foods rich in soya.
when it is severe, can reduce food and fluid intake and
result in low blood sugar and dehydration. If this happens Headaches and hysterectomy
to you, try to eat small, frequent carbohydrate snacks and Hysterectomy is of no benefit in the treatment of hormon-
drink plenty of fluids. Adequate rest is important to avoid al headaches. The normal menstrual cycle is the result of
over-tiredness. Other preventative measures that can safe- the interaction of several different organs in the body.
ly be tried include acupuncture, biofeedback, massage and These include organs in the brain in addition to the ovaries
relaxation techniques. and the womb. Removing the womb alone has little effect
Women who have migraine with aura before they become on the hormonal fluctuations of the menstrual cycle even
pregnant are more likely to continue to have attacks during though the periods stop.
S39
What can I do to help myself? about other possible trigger factors. These may still be part
If you think that your headaches are worse with hormonal of the problem even if hormones are too – and you may be
changes, the first thing to do is to keep a record of the dates able to avoid them.
of the first day of each period and the dates of each day of When you do start a headache, particularly migraine, do
headache. After a few months, look back over the records not delay taking treatment; if you leave it too late, it may
and see if you can establish any patterns. This will tell you be less helpful. If your treatments are not effective enough
if hormones are having an important effect. to allow you to continue your usual daily activities, take
Remember to look at the other causes of headaches. Think your diary to your doctor and discuss further options.
These guidelines have been developed by the Translation Working Group for the translation
of documents (hereafter called “technical documents”) produced by Lifting The Burden and
aimed at health-care professionals.
The coordinator works with the two translators, or the named Each assessor reviews the consensus-based translation indi-
chairmen of the translation pairs or panels, to reconcile differ- vidually, without reference to the others, sending comments
ences between the two translations and produce a consensus- to the coordinator.
based translation. There are three steps to this process: Minor changes suggested by the assessors may be imple-
- the translators each send their translations to the coordi- mented by the coordinator (in consultation if necessary with
nator; the referee).
- the coordinator makes an initial comparison of the two When substantial changes are suggested, the coordinator
translations and highlights and records any parts of them must liaise with the translators (and referee if necessary) to
that are substantially different; agree on an alternative translation. If substantial changes are
- the coordinator and translators (or chairmen) meet (or, agreed, the quality of the new translation should be re-
alternatively, hold a teleconference) to discuss these parts assessed by the same processes.
and any other problem areas, agreeing through consensus
on one translation.
If the translators cannot reach a consensus on any part, the
coordinator, if a native speaker, makes the final decision. If 5. Report of the translation process
the coordinator is not a native speaker, the referee is called
upon to make the final decision. The coordinator should produce a report in English on the
translation process, documenting the details (qualifications
and experience) of the translators, referee and assessors.
Furthermore, the report will contain:
4. Quality assessment - the original document;
- the two first translations, the consensus-based translation,
Three assessors are selected according to the following cri- any other intermediate versions and the final translation;
teria: - a record of any substantial difficulties encountered during
- either headache experts or primary-care physicians, the translation (difficulties may include problematic
according to the intended audience of the document; words or parts of the document that were difficult to trans-
- native speakers of the target language (and, ideally, resi- late, points of disagreement and alternatives, or any
dents of the relevant country) with good understanding of aspects on which it was difficult to achieve consensus or
linguistic factors (such as grammar, readability) but not that were highlighted during the quality assessment of the
necessarily bilingual. translation).
The report is sent to the chairman of the Translation
The assessors are instructed: Working Group.
- that the document is to be utilized by health-care profes-
sionals (specified, when appropriate); Resolving problems
- to assess the consensus-based translation for readability, Any problems with or queries about this translation process
grammatical correctness, medical correctness and cultural should be addressed to the chairman of the Translation
suitability; Working Group.
S43
These guidelines have been developed by the Translation Working Group for the translation
of documents (hereafter called “lay documents”) produced by Lifting The Burden as informa-
tion for lay people, including people with headache, the general public and lay media.
Translations of all lay documents should follow these guide- 2. Translation into target language
lines to ensure a high quality of translation and to be
approved by the Translation Working Group.
Translation should follow five steps. Two independent translations into the target language of the
original document must be produced.
The two translations may be carried out by two individual
translators, by two pairs of translators (one translates and the
1. Coordination of the translation second of the pair reviews the translation) or by two inde-
pendent panels of translators (with 3-4 members in each
A translation coordinator, who oversees but does not carry out panel). If a translator pair or a panel is used, one person
the translation, is selected according to the following criteria: should be named chairman and is responsible for liaising
- bilingual in English and the target language (ideally a native with the translation coordinator. The two individuals, pairs
speaker and resident of the country of the target language); or panels may not confer with each other until each has pro-
- has ability to mediate between different translators and to duced their translation.
understand the points of view of lay and professional
translators. Translators are selected according to the following criteria:
- native speakers of the target language;
If the coordinator is not a native speaker, a referee (native - at least one (individual, pair or panel) must be headache or
speaker) must be nominated. The referee cannot be involved medical expert(s);
in the translation process, and is called upon to arbitrate - (ideally, the other is a professional translator or bilingual
should irreconcilable views amongst translators prevent the person, pair or panel skilled in language/linguistics, such
production of a consensus-based translation. as a teacher or journalist; if no such translator is available,
then a second headache or medical expert [individual, pair
The tasks of the coordinator include: or panel] may be used).
- selecting the translators, assessor and review panel (and
referee if necessary); Translators are instructed to:
- organising and overseeing the translation, including meet- - keep translations simple, avoiding technical language, so
ing with the translators to produce a consensus-based that the documents can be understood by lay people of
translation; average reading ability;
- organising and overseeing the quality assurance of the - make semantic and conceptual translations (rather than lit-
translation; eral), so that the meanings of the words and phrases
- producing the report of the translation process. remain as in the original document;
S44
These guidelines have been developed by the Translation Working Group for the translation
of documents (hereafter called “hybrid documents”) produced by Lifting The Burden and
aimed at people with headache but to be used either in clinical practice or in research (such
as questionnaires, diaries, survey instruments).
Translations of all hybrid documents should follow these a consensus-based forward-translation and again (when
guidelines to ensure a high quality of translation and to be necessary) to resolve discrepancies discovered during back-
approved by the Translation Working Group. translation;
Translation should follow six steps. - organising and overseeing the quality assurance of the
translation;
- producing the report of the translation process.
1. Coordination of the translation
A translation coordinator, who oversees but does not carry out 2. Translation into target language
the translation, is selected according to the following criteria:
- has technical knowledge (ie, understands the concepts Two independent forward-translations into the target lan-
underlying the questions or instrument being translated); guage of the original document must be produced.
- bilingual in English and the target language (ideally a native The two translations may be carried out by two individual
speaker and a resident of the country of the target lan- translators, by two pairs of translators (one translates and the
guage); second of the pair reviews the translation) or by two inde-
- has ability to mediate between different translators and to pendent panels of translators (with 3-4 members in each
understand the points of view of lay and professional trans- panel). If a translator pair or a panel is used, one person
lators. should be named chairman and is responsible for liaising
with the translation coordinator. The two individuals, pairs
If the coordinator is not a native speaker, a referee (native or panels may not confer with each other until each has pro-
speaker) must be nominated. The referee cannot be involved duced their translation.
in the translation process, and is called upon to arbitrate
should irreconcilable views amongst translators prevent the Translators are selected according to the following criteria:
production of a consensus-based translation. - native speakers of the target language;
- at least one (individual, pair or panel) must be headache or
The tasks of the coordinator include: medical expert(s);
- selecting the forward- and back-translators, assessor and - (ideally, the other is a professional translator or bilingual
review panel (and referee if necessary); person, pair or panel skilled in language/linguistics, such
- liaising when necessary with the document author; as a teacher or journalist; if no such translator is available,
- organising and overseeing the forward- and back-transla- then a second headache or medical expert [individual, pair
tions, including meeting with the translators first to produce or panel] may be used).
S46
Translators are provided by the coordinator with an expla- Following this conceptual comparison, minor amendments
nation of the purpose and concepts underlying the elements may be implemented by the coordinator (in consultation
of the document (obtained, when necessary, from the docu- with the referee when appropriate).
ment author). When substantial discrepancies have been highlighted, the
coordinator calls a second meeting (or teleconference) with
Translators are instructed to: the forward-translators and back-translator to locate their
- keep translations simple, avoiding technical language, so causes and eliminate them by making changes either to the
that the documents can be understood by lay people of consensus-based forward-translation or to the back-transla-
average reading ability; tion as appropriate.
- make semantic and conceptual translations (rather than lit- This process produces the back-checked consensus-based
eral), so that the meanings of the words and phrases translation.
remain as in the original document;
- keep a record of any parts that they found difficult to
translate. 5. Quality assessment
6. Report of the translation process or parts of the document that were difficult to translate,
points of disagreement and alternatives, or any aspects on
The coordinator should produce a report in English on the which it was difficult to achieve consensus or that were
translation process, documenting the details (qualifications highlighted during the quality assessment of the translation).
and experience) of the translators, referee, assessors and
review panel members. Furthermore, the report will contain: The report is sent to the chairman of the Translation Working
- the original document; Group.
- the two forward-translations, the consensus-based transla-
tion, the back-translation, the back-checked consensus-
based translation, any other intermediate versions and the Resolving problems
final translation; Any problems with or queries about this translation process
- a record of any substantial difficulties encountered during should be addressed to the chairman of the Translation
the translation (difficulties may include problematic words Working Group.
Volume 8 • Supplement 1 • October 2007
10194
The Journal
The Journal of Headache and Pain Volume 8 · Supplement 1 · June 2007 · pp. S1-S44
of Headache
and Pain
Volume 8
The vai
A ine
onl
lable
.springerlink.c
om
Journal www
Supplement 1
June 2007
P R E FAC E
GUIDELINES
of Headache
2 European principles of management of common headache disorders in primary care
T.J. Steiner • K. Paemeleire • R. Jensen • D.Valade • L. Savi • M.J.A. Lainez • H.C. Diener •
P. Martelletti • E.G.M. Couturier
APPENDIX
and Pain 8 · S1
2007
21 The halt and hart indices
T.J. Steiner
European Headache Federation
25 Information for Patients
T.J. Steiner in collaboration with
Spedizione in a.p. – 45% – art. 2 comma 20/b legge 662/96 – Filiale di Milano
Aids for management of common