The classification criteria for chronic headaches and the pathophysiological mechanisms behind the transition from episodic to chronic remain controversial despite the significant clinical and pathophysiological advances made in recent years. Actually, there are still a lot of open questions: How can the many types of chronic headaches be distinguished by a proper diagnosis? What personality features best describe a chronic patient, and what conditions make them more likely to overuse symptomatic medications? Which detox program is most effective? Is a headache brought on by acute medication overuse the transformation's cause or effect? Is medication overuse exclusive to migraine and tension-type headaches, or can it also occur with other primary headaches? Which patients run the risk of losing their response to standard preventatives? Could comorbid conditions be a factor in this scenario? What are the most effective pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods for treating chronic headaches and symptomatic overuse? What are the morphofunctional and genetic underpinnings of transformation and symptomatic overuse?
The Journal of Headache and Pain brings this thematic series, which intends to approach chronic headache and symptom overuse from a broad and multidisciplinary perspective, will be centred on these and other unanswered concerns. The ultimate goal is to assist in unravelling the intricate mechanisms behind this range of disorders in order to enhance diagnosis and therapy.
Edited by Dr. Gianluca Coppola
Submission status: Open | Submission deadline: 1 February 2024