Field testing primary stabbing headache criteria according to the 3rd beta edition of International Classification of Headache Disorders: a clinic-based study

BACKGROUND: The diagnostic criteria for primary stabbing headache (PSH) in the 3rd beta edition of International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICDH-3 beta) were recently revised. In the ICDH-3 beta, PSH is defined as short-lasting head pain spontaneous occurring as a single stab or series of stabs without autonomic symptoms and involving all head areas (i.e., not limited to the ophthalmic branch region of the trigeminal nerve). The aim of this study was to investigate the validity of the ICHD-3 beta criteria for PSH in a clinic-based setting. METHODS: We prospectively collected data from patients with complaint of headache with stabbing pain without apparent cause at an initial visit to a secondary-care hospital from March 2009 to March 2014. Patients were followed up for 2 weeks to assess changes in clinical characteristics and secondary causes of pain. RESULTS: Data from 280 patients with headache with stabbing pain without apparent cause were collected, and 245 patients were followed up for 2 weeks. Secondary causes for stabbing headache were observed in 9 patients (herpes zoster in 7 patients and Bell’s palsy in 2 patients) after 2 weeks. The remaining 236 patients fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for PSH according to ICHD-3 beta. Only 22 patients met the diagnostic criteria for PSH according to ICHD-2. CONCLUSIONS: All patients with headache with stabbing pain without cranial autonomic symptoms fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for PSH according to ICHD-3 beta at the initial visit. Secondary causes for headache with stabbing pain were revealed in a small proportion (3.7 %) of patients after 2 weeks of follow-up.