Are there predictive factors for long-term outcome after withdrawal in drug-induced chronic daily headache?

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

To investigate prognostic factors for long-term outcome of patients after inpatient withdrawal because of drug-induced chronic daily headache.

PROCEDURES:

Fifty-five patients (36 females) were re-examined by means of a standardized interview after inpatient withdrawal. The mean observation period was 9.28 +/- 2.85 years (mean +/- SD; median 8.58; range 5.00-13.50).

RESULTS:

Five years after withdrawal, one-third of the patients (34.6%) had an overall favourable outcome, one-third (32.7%) had no recurrent drug overuse and reported a clear-cut improvement of headache, and one-third (32.7%) developed recurrent drug overuse. Most relapses occurred within 2 years, and a small percentage within 5 years. No predictors for long-term outcome after inpatient withdrawal were found.

CONCLUSIONS:

All patients with drug-induced chronic daily headache should be considered as good candidates for inpatient withdrawal, and no patient should be excluded from that therapy.

• Authors: G G Tribl, P Schnider, C Wöber, S Aull, A Auterith, K Zeiler, P Wessely
• Journal: Cephalalgia : an international journal of headache (Cephalalgia) Vol. 21 Issue 6 Pg. 691-6 (Jul 2001) ISSN: 0333-1024 [Print] England
• PMID: 11531902 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Headache Disorders (physiopathology, therapy)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Outcome Assessment, Health Care (statistics & numerical data)
• Prognosis
• Proportional Hazards Models
• Recurrence