[Chronic daily headache: management and rehabilitation]

In 2001, WHO evidenced headache among the first twenty disability agents in the world. The International Classification of Headache Disorders, II version (ICHD-II) recognises 24 types of chronic headache and states primary headaches as chronic when attacks appear for more than 15 days per month, for at least three months. Migraine given by drugs overuse, defined by ICDH-II in 2004 (and revised in 2005) as MOH, represents a common and debilitating disorder, which can be defined as generation, perpetuation and persistence of intense chronic migraine caused by the frequent and excessive use of (symptomatic) drugs, giving an immediate relief. MOH is associated with overuse of a combination of analgesics, barbiturates, opiods, Ergot alkaloids, aspirin, FANS, caffeine and triptans. Furthermore, some psychological and behavioural states seem particularly important in promoting and sustaining drugs abuse. The management and rehabilitation of patients affected by CDH, over-using symptomatic drugs, consists in the suspension and gradual reduction of their assumption, because of tolerance and addiction possibilities. Therapeutic success, defined as total absence of headache or frequency reduction over 50% in a period of time from 1 to 6 months, stands around 72-74%.