Integrated Headache Care: Diagnosis, Pharmacologic Management, and Behavioral and Rehabilitative Strategies for Clinicians

Course overview

Headache disorders are among the most prevalent and disabling conditions seen in clinical practice, yet many patients do not achieve adequate relief. This course presents a whole-person, evidence-based framework for headache care that begins with accurate diagnosis and red-flag recognition and extends to acute and preventive pharmacologic management, behavioral medicine, lifestyle modification, and, when a coexisting musculoskeletal impairment is present, rehabilitative and physical treatment. Participants will strengthen their ability to classify headache disorders, recognize secondary causes, individualize treatment according to diagnosis and patient goals, and coordinate interdisciplinary care. The course emphasizes that headache is multifactorial and that effective care integrates medical, behavioral, lifestyle, and rehabilitative interventions selected according to diagnosis and the best available evidence. It is designed to help clinicians extend care beyond acute symptom suppression toward prevention, function, and shared decision-making, while reviewing medication-overuse risk and the safe, appropriate use of every modality.