2.3 Chronic tension-type headacheHartmut Gobel2018-02-06T10:01:15+00:00

Coded elsewhere:

4.10 New daily persistent headache.

Description:

A disorder evolving from frequent episodic tension-type headache, with daily or very frequent episodes of headache, typically bilateral, pressing or tightening in quality and of mild to moderate intensity, lasting hours to days, or unremitting. The pain does not worsen with routine physical activity, but may be associated with mild nausea, photophobia or phonophobia.

Diagnostic criteria:

1. Headache occurring on ≥15 days/month on average for >3 months (≥180 days/year), fulfilling criteria B-D
2. Lasting hours to days, or unremitting
3. At least two of the following four characteristics:
   1. bilateral location
   2. pressing or tightening (non-pulsating) quality
   3. mild or moderate intensity
   4. not aggravated by routine physical activity such as walking or climbing stairs
4. Both of the following:
1. no more than one of photophobia, phonophobia or mild nausea
2. neither moderate or severe nausea nor vomiting
5. Not better accounted for by another ICHD-3 diagnosis^1;2;3.

Notes:

1. Both 2.3 Chronic tension-type headache and 1.3 Chronic migraine require headache on 15 or more days/month. For 2.3 Chronic tension-type headache, headache must, on at least 15 days, meet criteria B-D for 2.2 Frequent episodic tension-type headache; for 1.3 Chronic migraine headache must, on at least eight days, meet criteria B-D for 1.1 Migraine without aura. A patient can therefore fulfil all criteria for both these diagnoses, for example by having headache on 25 days/month meeting migraine criteria on eight days and tension-type headache criteria on 17 days. In these cases, only the diagnosis 1.3 Chronic migraine should be given.
2. 2.3 Chronic tension-type headache evolves over time from 2.2 Frequent episodic tension-type headache; when these criteria A-E are fulfilled by headache that, unambiguously, is daily and unremitting from less than 24 hours after its first onset, code as 4.10 New daily persistent headache. When the manner of onset is not remembered or is otherwise uncertain, code as 2.3 Chronic tension-type headache.
3. In many uncertain cases there is overuse of medication. When this fulfils criterion B for any of the subtypes of 8.2 Medication-overuse headache and the criteria for 2.3 Chronic tension-type headache are also fulfilled, the rule is to code for both 2.3 Chronic tension-type headache and 8.2 Medication-overuse headache. After drug withdrawal, the diagnosis should be re-evaluated: not uncommonly the criteria for 2.3 Chronic tension-type headache will no longer be fulfilled, with reversion to one or other episodic type. When the disorder remains chronic after withdrawal, the diagnosis of 8.2 Medication-overuse headache may be rescinded.