A series of 22 patients was consecutively diagnosed with
hypnic headache (HH) from June 2007 to June 2008 in two
headache specialty centres participating in the French Observatory of
Migraine and
Headaches. Patients and
headache characteristics were compared with the 2004 International Classification of
Headache Disorders, 2nd edn (ICHD-II) criteria for HH and published series of HH patients. One-third of HH patients reported
migraine-like
headaches (pulsating/unilateral/stabbing) and > 20% were aged < 50 years at symptom onset. Of note, HH patients displayed typical motor activities during the
headache (getting up, eating/drinking especially a cup of
coffee, reading/watching television) that differentiate HH from
migraine and suggest relationships between HH and
trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias. The functional and emotional impact of HH appears low and similar to that of
migraine in patients consulting in primary care practice. Improvements in ICHD-II criteria are suggested, especially to introduce the typical motor behaviour acted out by HH patients.