Chronic headache is among the most common neurological disorders with major physical, psychological, social and economic impact. The aim of this prospective observational study isto investigate the effects of an interdisciplinary multimodal integrated care program in patients with chronic migraine and/or tension-type headache.

158 patients with chronic migraine or tensions-type headache at least five days per month for at least 6 months and current intake of triptans (migraine) or analgesic drugs (tension-type headache) are eligible. Patients undergo inpatient, outpatient and/or semi-stationary treatment including conventional headache diagnostics and therapy as well as traditional Chinese medicine, European naturopathy, and mind-body-medicine approaches. Headache frequency is defined as the primary outcome; secondary outcomes include pain (visual analog scale, Pain Perception Scale), triptans and analgesics use (headache diary), health-related quality of life (SF-36), function (Headache Disability Inventory, Patient-specific Functional Scale), depression and anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), and pain self-efficacy (Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire). Outcomes are assessed at treatment start, treatment end and 6 months after treatment end.

Chronic headache is among the most common neurological disorders with major physical, psychological, social and economic impact. The aim of this prospective observational study isto investigate the effects of an interdisciplinary multimodal integrated care program in patients with chronic migraine and/or tension-type headache.

158 patients with chronic migraine or tensions-type headache at least five days per month for at least 6 months and current intake of triptans (migraine) or analgesic drugs (tension-type headache) are eligible. Patients undergo inpatient, outpatient and/or semi-stationary treatment including conventional headache diagnostics and therapy as well as traditional Chinese medicine, European naturopathy, and mind-body-medicine approaches. Headache frequency is defined as the primary outcome; secondary outcomes include pain (visual analog scale, Pain Perception Scale), triptans and analgesics use (headache diary), health-related quality of life (SF-36), function (Headache Disability Inventory, Patient-specific Functional Scale), depression and anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), and pain self-efficacy (Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire). Outcomes are assessed at treatment start, treatment end and 6 months after treatment end.

Inclusion Criteria:

headache at least five days per month for at least 6 months current intake of a) at least 10 triptans per month or b) analgesic drugs that can themselves elicit headache

Exclusion Criteria: None.

Patients insured with Barmer GEK or Techniker Krankenkasse, large German statutory health insurances, and diagnosed with migraine and/or tension-type headaches were eligible for integrated care. All patients, who were over 18 years old with headache at least five days per month for at least 6 months and current intake of a) at least 10 triptans per month or b) analgesic drugs that can themselves elicit headache were suited to be involved in the observational study. Patients were referred by specialists or general practitioners to the Department of Internal and Integrative Medicine.