Overview
Psychogenic headache, often rooted in psychological factors rather than organic pathology, manifests as headache symptoms without identifiable physical cause. It can significantly impact quality of life and may overlap with other headache types like tension-type or cervicogenic headaches 1721.Diagnosis
Management
Special Populations
Key Recommendations
References
Showing 100 most recent of 335 indexed papers.
1 Dubosh NM, Edlow J. Diagnosing Serious "Cannot Miss" Causes of Non-traumatic Headache-Thunderclap Headache and Beyond. Emergency medicine clinics of North America 2026. link 2 Porporatti AL, Schroder ÂGD, Lebel A, Moreau N, Guillouet C, Stechman-Neto J et al.. Prevalence of orofacial and head pain: an umbrella review of systematic reviews. Journal of oral & facial pain and headache 2024. link 3 Lu Z, Zou H, Zhao P, Wang J, Wang R. Myofascial Release for the Treatment of Tension-Type, Cervicogenic Headache or Migraine: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Pain research & management 2024. link 4 Cermelli A, Roveta F, Giorgis L, Boschi S, Grassini A, Ferrandes F et al.. Is headache a risk factor for dementia? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology 2024. link 5 Kaleeny J, Janis J. Correspondence: Morphological features of the greater occipital nerve and its possible importance for interventional procedures. Journal of anatomy 2024. link 6 Rau LM, Humberg C, Könning A, Claus BB, Stahlschmidt L, Wager J. Predictors and concomitants of the remission of frequent headache in pediatrics: A longitudinal community study. Headache 2024. link 7 Ganti L, Veluri SC, Stead TS, Rieck R. Ominous Causes of Headache. Current pain and headache reports 2024. link 8 Onofri A, Pensato U, Rosignoli C, Wells-Gatnik W, Stanyer E, Ornello R et al.. Primary headache epidemiology in children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The journal of headache and pain 2023. link 9 Demont A, Lafrance S, Gaska C, Kechichian A, Bourmaud A, Desmeules F. Efficacy of physiotherapy interventions for the management of adults with cervicogenic headache: A systematic review and meta-analyses. PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitation 2023. link 10 Utukuri PS, Shih RY, Ajam AA, Callahan KE, Chen D, Dunkle JW et al.. ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Headache: 2022 Update. Journal of the American College of Radiology : JACR 2023. link 11 Rani M, Kaur J. Effectiveness of spinal mobilization and postural correction exercises in the management of cervicogenic headache: A randomized controlled trial. Physiotherapy theory and practice 2023. link 12 Becher B, Lozano-López C, Castro-Carletti EM, Hoffmann M, Becher C, Mesa-Jimenez J et al.. Effectiveness of therapeutic exercise for the management of cervicogenic headache: A systematic review. Musculoskeletal science & practice 2023. link 13 Cocores AN, Goadsby PJ, Monteith TS. Post-vaccination headache reporting: Trends according to the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System. Headache 2023. link 14 . Headaches in Pregnancy and Postpartum: ACOG Clinical Practice Guideline No. 3. Obstetrics and gynecology 2022. link 15 Bini P, Hohenschurz-Schmidt D, Masullo V, Pitt D, Draper-Rodi J. The effectiveness of manual and exercise therapy on headache intensity and frequency among patients with cervicogenic headache: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Chiropractic & manual therapies 2022. link 16 Vázquez-Justes D, Yarzábal-Rodríguez R, Doménech-García V, Herrero P, Bellosta-López P. Effectiveness of dry needling for headache: A systematic review. Neurologia 2022. link 17 Clausen TC, Greve NK, Müller KI, Kristoffersen ES, Schytz HW. Telemedicine in headache care: A systematic review. Cephalalgia : an international journal of headache 2022. link 18 Tasnim S, Wilson SG, Walsh JP, Nyholt DR. Cross-Trait Genetic Analyses Indicate Pleiotropy and Complex Causal Relationships between Headache and Thyroid Function Traits. Genes 2022. link 19 Gavazova EZ, Grekova-Kafalova DD. Pharmaceutical care for patients with headache. Folia medica 2022. link 20 Bhola R, Ertem DH. The role and impact of the headache nurse specialist. Agri : Agri (Algoloji) Dernegi'nin Yayin organidir = The journal of the Turkish Society of Algology 2022. link 21 Zhou S, Badash I, Doherty JK. Nummular and Side-locked Headaches for the Otolaryngologist. Otolaryngologic clinics of North America 2022. link 22 Beck S, Kinnear FB, Maree Kelly A, Chu KH, Sen Kuan W, Keijzers G et al.. Clinical presentation and assessment of older patients presenting with headache to emergency departments: A multicentre observational study. Australasian journal on ageing 2022. link 23 Dela Vega MPD, Yu JRT, Espiritu AI, Jamora RDG. Primary headache research output and association with socioeconomic factors in Southeast Asia: a bibliometric analysis. Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology 2021. link 24 Orhurhu V, Huang L, Quispe RC, Khan F, Karri J, Urits I et al.. Use of Radiofrequency Ablation for the Management of Headache: A Systematic Review. Pain physician 2021. link 25 Liu A. Headaches. Pediatric annals 2021. link 26 Kopel D, Peeler C, Zhu S. Headache Emergencies. Neurologic clinics 2021. link 27 Mollan SP, Virdee JS, Bilton EJ, Thaller M, Krishan A, Sinclair AJ. Headache for ophthalmologists: current advances in headache understanding and management. Eye (London, England) 2021. link 28 Kadom N. Imaging of Headaches: Appropriateness and Differential Diagnosis. Pediatric annals 2020. link 29 Zhang N, Chan TLH, Cowan R. Reimagining Headache Fellowships. Headache 2020. link 30 Longoni M, Agostoni EC. Headache in neurological emergency. Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology 2020. link 31 Tsze DS, Cruz AT, Mistry RD, Gonzalez AE, Ochs JB, Richer L et al.. Interobserver Agreement in the Assessment of Clinical Findings in Children with Headaches. The Journal of pediatrics 2020. link 32 Peretz A, Dujari S, Cowan R, Minen M. ACEP Guidelines on Acute Nontraumatic Headache Diagnosis and Management in the Emergency Department, Commentary on Behalf of the Refractory, Inpatient, Emergency Care Section of the American Headache Society. Headache 2020. link 33 Förderreuther S. [Headache emergencies are easily overlooked]. Schmerz (Berlin, Germany) 2020. link 34 Levin D, Cohen S. Images in anesthesiology: three safe, simple, and inexpensive methods to administer the sphenopalatine ganglion block. Regional anesthesia and pain medicine 2020. link 35 Kim R, Patel ZM. Sinus Headache: Differential Diagnosis and an Evidence-Based Approach. Otolaryngologic clinics of North America 2020. link 36 Nowaczewska M, Wiciński M, Osiński S, Kaźmierczak H. The Role of Vitamin D in Primary Headache-from Potential Mechanism to Treatment. Nutrients 2020. link 37 Gottschalk CH. Cognitive Biases & Errors in Headache Medicine. Headache 2019. link 38 Guryildirim M, Kontzialis M, Ozen M, Kocak M. Acute Headache in the Emergency Setting. Radiographics : a review publication of the Radiological Society of North America, Inc 2019. link 39 Terrin A, Mainardi F, Zanchin G, Maggioni F. Sports, physical activity and headache in the classical age: historical descriptions from the first sports textbook, "De arte gymnastica", by Girolamo Mercuriale. Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology 2019. link 40 Hu S, Helman S, Filip P, Cabin J, Colley P. The role of the otolaryngologist in the evaluation and management of headaches. American journal of otolaryngology 2019. link 41 Chazen JL, Ebani EJ, Virk M, Talbott JF, Shah V. CT-Guided Block and Radiofrequency Ablation of the C2 Dorsal Root Ganglion for Cervicogenic Headache. AJNR. American journal of neuroradiology 2019. link 42 Walling A. Headache: Headache Emergencies. FP essentials 2018. link 43 Ferrari A, Baraldi C, Licata M, Rustichelli C. Polypharmacy Among Headache Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study. CNS drugs 2018. link 44 Nguyen JP, Raoul S, Desal H, Bourcier R, Kuhn E, Dixneuf V et al.. Treatment of refractory headache secondary to intracranial endovascular procedure by transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation of the occipital nerve. Neurophysiologie clinique = Clinical neurophysiology 2018. link 45 Russo A, Silvestro M, Cirillo M, Tessitore A, Tedeschi G. Idiopathic hypertrophic pachymeningitis mimicking hemicrania continua: An unusual clinical case. Cephalalgia : an international journal of headache 2018. link 46 Alons IME, Goudsmit BFJ, Jellema K, van Walderveen MAA, Wermer MJH, Algra A. Yield of Computed Tomography (CT) Angiography in Patients with Acute Headache, Normal Neurological Examination, and Normal Non Contrast CT: A Meta-Analysis. Journal of stroke and cerebrovascular diseases : the official journal of National Stroke Association 2018. link 47 Erdoğan O, Ismi O, Tezer MS. A Rare Cause of Headache: Pneumatized Nasal Septum Osteoma. The Journal of craniofacial surgery 2017. link 48 Atci IB, Yilmaz H, Antar V, Ozdemir NG, Baran O, Sadillioglu S et al.. What do we know about ALARA? Is our knowledge sufficient about radiation safety?. Journal of neurosurgical sciences 2017. link 49 Fasih U, Shaikh A, Shaikh N. Aetiology of headache in clinical ophthalmic practice at a tertiary care hospital of Karachi. JPMA. The Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association 2017. link 50 Eren O, Straube A, Schöberl F, Schankin C. Hemicrania Continua: Beneficial Effect of Non-Invasive Vagus Nerve Stimulation in a Patient With a Contraindication for Indomethacin. Headache 2017. link 51 Liapounova NA, VanderPluym JH, Bhargava R, Kolski HH. Short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks with conjunctival injection and tearing-like attacks in a pediatric patient found to have a pontine capillary telangiectasia and developmental venous anomaly: A case report exploring the root of the problem. Cephalalgia : an international journal of headache 2017. link 52 Matsota PK, Christodoulopoulou TC, Batistaki CZ, Arvaniti CC, Voumvourakis KI, Kostopanagiotou GG. Factors associated with the presence of postoperative headache in elective surgery patients: a prospective single center cohort study. Journal of anesthesia 2017. link 53 Tso AR, Goadsby PJ. Headache. Seminars in neurology 2016. link 54 Chong MS, Renton T. Pain. Part 10: Headaches. Dental update 2016. link 55 Slover R, Kent S. Pediatric Headaches. Advances in pediatrics 2015. link 56 Dowson A. The burden of headache: global and regional prevalence of headache and its impact. International journal of clinical practice. Supplement 2015. link 57 Mathew PG, Boes CJ, Garza I. A tale of two systems: cardiac cephalalgia vs migrainous thoracalgia. Headache 2015. link 58 Freedom T. Headaches and sleep disorders. Disease-a-month : DM 2015. link 59 Ng A, Wang D. Cervical facet injections in the management of cervicogenic headaches. Current pain and headache reports 2015. link 60 Voigt CL, Murphy MO. Occipital nerve blocks in the treatment of headaches: safety and efficacy. The Journal of emergency medicine 2015. link 61 Ashina S, Bendtsen L, Lyngberg AC, Lipton RB, Hajiyeva N, Jensen R. Prevalence of neck pain in migraine and tension-type headache: a population study. Cephalalgia : an international journal of headache 2015. link 62 Singhi S, Jacobs H, Gladstein J. Pediatric headache: where have we been and where do we need to be. Headache 2014. link 63 Cherian J, Viswanathan A, Evans RW. Headache and arachnoid cysts. Headache 2014. link 64 Lim SY, Evangelou N, Jürgens S. Postpartum headache: diagnostic considerations. Practical neurology 2014. link 65 Pasha R, Soleja RQ, Ijaz MN. Imaging for headache: what the otolaryngologist looks for. Otolaryngologic clinics of North America 2014. link 66 Patel ZM, Setzen M, Poetker DM, DelGaudio JM. Evaluation and management of "sinus headache" in the otolaryngology practice. Otolaryngologic clinics of North America 2014. link 67 Wang X, Li WW, Duan JX, Deng YT, Pan L, Zhou JY. Clinical characteristics and the diagnosis and treatment status of headaches in the Department of Gerontology of a university hospital in China. Neurological research 2014. link 68 Onwuekwe I, Onyeka T, Aguwa E, Ezeala-Adikaibe B, Ekenze O, Onuora E. Headache prevalence and its characterization amongst hospital workers in Enugu, South East Nigeria. Head & face medicine 2014. link 69 Charleston L, Evans RW. Public policy and headache: observations of health care policy in the US congress from a legislative fellow's perspective. Headache 2013. link 70 Haan J. Faked headaches becoming real. Headache 2013. link 71 Friedman DI, Digre KB. Headache medicine meets neuro-ophthalmology: exam techniques and challenging cases. Headache 2013. link 72 Wager J, Hirschfeld G, Zernikow B. Tension-type headache or migraine? Adolescents' pain descriptions are of little help. Headache 2013. link 73 Han A, Yoon DY, Kim ES, Kim HC, Cho BM, Lee JY. Value of CT angiography for the detection of intracranial vascular lesions in patients with acute severe headache. European radiology 2013. link 74 Stillman MJ, Tepper DE, Tepper SJ, Cho L. QT prolongation, Torsade de Pointes, myocardial ischemia from coronary vasospasm, and headache medications. Part 2: review of headache medications, drug-drug interactions, QTc prolongation, and other arrhythmias. Headache 2013. link 75 Fontaine D, Almairac F, Mondot L, Lanteri-Minet M. Cluster-like headache secondary to parasagittal hemangiopericytoma. Headache 2013. link 76 Lester MS, Liu BP. Imaging in the evaluation of headache. The Medical clinics of North America 2013. link 77 Kornbluth JA, Russell JA. Treatment of refractory headache: potential conflicts of interest in coding. Continuum (Minneapolis, Minn.) 2012. link 78 Daulaire S, Fine L, Salmon M, Cummings C, Liebmann O, Shah S et al.. Ultrasound assessment of optic disc edema in patients with headache. The American journal of emergency medicine 2012. link 79 Baron EP, Moskowitz SI, Tepper SJ, Gupta R, Novak E, Hussain MS et al.. Headache following intracranial neuroendovascular procedures. Headache 2012. link 80 Mack KJ, Hershey AD, Lewis D, Rust R. Headache competencies in child neurology. Seminars in pediatric neurology 2011. link 81 Cevoli S, Cortelli P. Italian Law "measures to guarantee the access to palliative and pain treatments": rebound on headaches' management. Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology 2011. link 82 Gambini O, Islam L, Demartini B, Scarone S. Psychiatric issues in patients with headaches. Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology 2010. link 83 Larner AJ. "A transcript of actual life": headache in the novels of Jane Austen. Headache 2010. link 84 Provenzale JM. Imaging evaluation of the patient with worst headache of life--it's not all subarachnoid hemorrhage. Emergency radiology 2010. link 85 Friedman DI, Frishberg B. Neuro-ophthalmology and its contribution to headaches: a case-based approach. Expert review of neurotherapeutics 2010. link 86 Ravindran M, Baraniuk JN. The sinus headache explained. Current allergy and asthma reports 2010. link 87 Sinha A, Petkov S, Meldrum D. Unrecognised dural puncture resulting in subdural hygroma and cortical vein thrombosis. Anaesthesia 2010. link 88 Allena M, Tassorelli C, Sances G, Guaschino E, Sandrini G, Nappi G et al.. Is hemicrania continua a single entity or the association of two headache forms? Considerations from a case report. Headache 2010. link 89 Wiemokly G. Just a headache? What EMS providers need to know about the signs and symptoms of headaches. EMS magazine 2009. link 90 Zaragoza-Casares P, Gómez-Fernández T, Gómez de Liaño MA, Zaragoza-Garcia P. Bilateral idiopathic trochleitis as a cause of frontal cephalgia. Headache 2009. link 91 Ferrari A, Spaccapelo L, Gallesi D, Sternieri E. Focus on headache as an adverse reaction to drugs. The journal of headache and pain 2009. link 92 He QY, Liang J, Zhang Y, Zhang J. Thirty-two cases of vascular headache treated by acupuncture combined with Chinese herbal decoction. Journal of traditional Chinese medicine = Chung i tsa chih ying wen pan 2009. link60076-5) 93 Kernick D, Stapley S, Campbell J, Hamilton W. What happens to new-onset headache in children that present to primary care? A case-cohort study using electronic primary care records. Cephalalgia : an international journal of headache 2009. link 94 Fredriksen TA. Cervicogenic headache: invasive procedures. Cephalalgia : an international journal of headache 2008. link 95 Vargas BB, Dodick DW. 2007 Scottsdale Headache Symposium. Expert review of neurotherapeutics 2008. link 96 Finkel AG. The legitimization of headache medicine. Headache 2008. link 97 Coutinho E, Pereira-Monteiro J. 'Bad trips': airplane headache not just in airplanes?. Cephalalgia : an international journal of headache 2008. link 98 Saper JR. Fifty years of headache care evolution: from a few interested doctors to certified specialists and comprehensive systems. Headache 2008. link 99 Lipton RB, Bigal ME. Headache as a real disease. Headache 2008. link 100 Edlow JA, Panagos PD, Godwin SA, Thomas TL, Decker WW. Clinical policy: critical issues in the evaluation and management of adult patients presenting to the emergency department with acute headache. Annals of emergency medicine 2008. link