IDIOPATHIC STABBING HEADACHE (JABS AND JOLTS SYNDROME)

The clinical features of idiopathic stabbing headache (''jabs and jolt s syndrome'') were studied in 38 patients who were diagnosed throughou t a 1-year period. Mean age at the onset of symptoms was 47.1 years +/ -14.5 (SD), and a clear female preponderance was demonstrated (female/ male ratio=6.6). Painful attacks were ultrashort, i.e. virtually all a ttacks in more than two thirds of cases lasted only one second. The fr equency of attacks varied immensely, ranging from 1 attack per year to 50 attacks daily. The pain paroxysms usually occurred with an irregul ar or sporadic temporal pattern. The localization of painful attacks w as reported frequently as unifocal, usually in the orbital area, but a lso multifocal patterns were observed, the attacks frequently changing location from one area to the next. The majority of attacks occurred spontaneously, and accompanying phenomena were reported only rarely. I ndomethacin treatment (75 mg daily) seemed to have a complete or parti al effect in most patients treated as such (n=17).