Criteria

The International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD): tension-type headache - ICHD-3[1]

  • 2.1 Infrequent episodic tension-type headache

    1. At least 10 episodes of headache occurring on <1 day/month on average (<12 days/year) and fulfilling criteria B–D

    2. Lasting from 30 minutes to seven days

    3. At least two of the following four characteristics:

      1. bilateral location

      2. pressing or tightening (non-pulsating) quality

      3. mild or moderate intensity

      4. not aggravated by routine physical activity such as walking or climbing stairs

    4. Both of the following:

      1. no nausea or vomiting

      2. no more than one of photophobia or phonophobia

    5. Not better accounted for by another ICHD-3 diagnosis.

  • 2.1.1 Infrequent episodic tension-type headache associated with pericranial tenderness

    1. Episodes fulfilling criteria for 2.1 Infrequent episodic tension-type headache

    2. Increased pericranial tenderness on manual palpation.

  • 2.1.2 Infrequent episodic tension-type headache not associated with pericranial tenderness

    1. Episodes fulfilling criteria for 2.1 Infrequent episodic tension-type headache

    2. No increase in pericranial tenderness.

  • 2.2 Frequent episodic tension-type headache

    1. At least 10 episodes of headache occurring on 1–14 days/month on average for >3 months (≥12 and <180 days/year) and fulfilling criteria B–D

    2. Lasting from 30 minutes to seven days

    3. At least two of the following four characteristics:

      1. bilateral location

      2. pressing or tightening (non-pulsating) quality

      3. mild or moderate intensity

      4. not aggravated by routine physical activity such as walking or climbing stairs

    4. Both of the following:

      1. no nausea or vomiting

      2. no more than one of photophobia or phonophobia

    5. Not better accounted for by another ICHD-3 diagnosis.

  • 2.2.1 Frequent episodic tension-type headache associated with pericranial tenderness

    1. Episodes fulfilling criteria for 2.2 Frequent episodic tension-type headache

    2. Increased pericranial tenderness on manual palpation.

  • 2.2.2 Frequent episodic tension-type headache not associated with pericranial tenderness

    1. Episodes fulfilling criteria for 2.2 Frequent episodic tension-type headache

    2. No increase in pericranial tenderness.

  • 2.3 Chronic tension-type headache

    1. Headache occurring on ≥15 days/month on average for >3 months (≥180 days/year), fulfilling criteria B–D

    2. Lasting hours to days, or unremitting

    3. At least two of the following four characteristics:

      1. bilateral location

      2. pressing or tightening (non-pulsating) quality

      3. mild or moderate intensity

      4. not aggravated by routine physical activity such as walking or climbing stairs

    4. Both of the following:

      1. no more than one of photophobia, phonophobia or mild nausea

      2. neither moderate or severe nausea nor vomiting

    5. Not better accounted for by another ICHD-3 diagnosis.

  • 2.3.1 Chronic tension-type headache associated with pericranial tenderness

    1. Headache fulfilling criteria for 2.3 Chronic tension-type headache

    2. Increased pericranial tenderness on manual palpation.

  • 2.3.2 Chronic tension-type headache not associated with pericranial tenderness

    1. Headache fulfilling criteria for 2.3 Chronic tension-type headache

    2. No increase in pericranial tenderness.

  • 2.4 Probable tension-type headache

  • 2.4.1 Probable infrequent episodic tension-type headache

    1. One or more episodes of headache fulfilling all but one of criteria A–D for 2.1 Infrequent episodic tension-type headache

    2. Not fulfilling ICHD-3 criteria for any other headache disorder

    3. Not better accounted for by another ICHD-3 diagnosis.

  • 2.4.2 Probable frequent episodic tension-type headache

    1. Episodes of headache fulfilling all but one of criteria A–D for 2.2 Frequent episodic tension-type headache

    2. Not fulfilling ICHD-3 criteria for any other headache disorder

    3. Not better accounted for by another ICHD-3 diagnosis.

  • 2.4.3 Probable chronic tension-type headache

    1. Headache fulfilling all but one of criteria A–D for 2.3 Chronic episodic tension-type headache

    2. Not fulfilling ICHD-3 criteria for any other headache disorder

    3. Not better accounted for by another ICHD-3 diagnosis.

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