THE CLINICIAN APPROACH TO THE MANAGEMENT OF HEADACHE

Headache is a ubiquitous complaint, yet it is one that often elicits a nxiety in both patients and physicians. When a patient presents with h eadache, the clinician must answer the following questions: (1) Is the headache ''worrisome'' (secondary to underlying disease)? (2) If the headache is benign, what type is it? (3) How is the acute headache bes t treated? and (4) How may future headaches be prevented? The followin g review is intended to aid primary care physicians in answering these questions.