5.3 Acute headache attributed to whiplash¹Hartmut Gobel2018-02-06T10:28:48+00:00

Description:

Headache of less than 3 months’ duration caused by whiplash.

Diagnostic criteria:

1. Any headache fulfilling criteria C and D
2. Whiplash¹, associated at the time with neck pain and/or headache, has occurred
3. Headache has developed within 7 days after the whiplash
4. Either of the following:
   1. headache has resolved within 3 months after its onset
   2. headache has not yet resolved but 3 months have not yet passed since its onset
5. Not better accounted for by another ICHD-3 diagnosis.

Note:

Whiplash is defined as sudden and inadequately restrained acceleration/deceleration movements of the head with flexion/extension of the neck. Whiplash may occur after either high or low impact forces.

Comments:

Whiplash most commonly occurs in the context of a motor vehicle accident.

5.3 Acute headache attributed to whiplash may occur as an isolated symptom or with a constellation of other symptoms that relate to the neck, as well as somatic extracervical, neurosensory, behavioural, cognitive and/or mood symptoms. Whiplash itself may be classified according to the severity of the clinical presentation, using a scheme such as that presented by the Quebec Task Force on Whiplash-Associated Disorders.