Headache Journal

Clinical Practice Guidelines

The AHS has established guidelines through the help of our Guidelines Committee. These guidelines help promote AHS as the most comprehensive source in the field of headaches for both professionals and patients.

AHS Guidelines and Position Statements

Clinical practice guidelines are systematically developed statements to assist practitioner and patient decisions about appropriate health care for specific clinical circumstances. AHS provides this service to assist all healthcare professionals in their treatment of patients with migraine and related disorders.

Guidelines Committee

The Guidelines Committee works to establish AHS as the authoritative source of information for patients, physicians, and regulatory agencies by developing guidelines and a classification system.

Meet the Committee

AHS Guidelines Policies

Guideline Justification Statement  

Guideline Development Process

Guideline Development Worksheet 

Position Statement Justification Statement 

Position Statement Development Process 

Position Statement Project Development Worksheet 

5 Things Physicians and Patients Should Question 

Publications

Access the current list of AHS Guidelines, Position Statements, Evidence Assessments, and Consensus Opinions published in the journal Headache®.

2024

Andrew C. Charles MD, Kathleen B. Digre MD, Peter J. Goadsby MD, PhD, Matthew S. Robbins MD, Andrew Hershey MD, PhD, The American Headache Society. (2024) Calcitonin gene-related peptide-targeting therapies are a first-line option for the prevention of migraine: An American Headache Society position statement update.

2021

Jessica Ailani MD, Rebecca C. Burch MD, Matthew S. Robbins MD, on behalf of the Board of Directors of the American Headache Society. (2021) The American Headache Society Consensus Statement: Update on integrating new migraine treatments into clinical practice.

2019

Oskoui M, Pringsheim T, Holler-Managan Y, Potrebic S, Billinghurst L, Gloss D, Hershey AD, Licking N, Sowell M, Victorio MC, Gersz EM, Leininger E, Zanitsch H, Yonker M, Mack K. (2019) Practice guideline update summary: Acute treatment of migraine in children and adolescents: Report of the Guideline Development, Dissemination, and Implementation Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology and the American Headache Society.

2018

Digre, K.., American Headache Society

2016

Pringsheim, T., Davenport, W. J., Marmura, M. J., Schwedt, T. J. and Silberstein, S. (2016), How to Apply the AHS Evidence Assessment of the Acute Treatment of Migraine in Adults to your Patient with Migraine. Headache, 56: 1194–1200. doi:10.1111/head.12870

 

2016

Robbins MS, Starling AJ, Pringsheim TM, Becker WJ, Schwedt TJ. Treatment of Cluster Headache: The American Headache Society Evidence-Based Guidelines. Headache. 2016 Jul;56(7):1093-106. doi: 10.1111/head.12866.

2016

Orr, S. L., Friedman, B. W., Christie, S., Minen, M. T., Bamford, C., Kelley, N. E. and Tepper, D. (2016), Management of Adults With Acute Migraine in the Emergency Department: The American Headache Society Evidence Assessment of Parenteral Pharmacotherapies. Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain, 56: 911–940. doi:10.1111/head.12835

2015

Marmura MJ1, Silberstein SD, Schwedt TJ. The acute treatment of migraine in adults: the american headache society evidence assessment of migraine pharmacotherapies. Headache. 2015 Jan;55(1):3-20. doi: 10.1111/head.12499.

2013

Loder, E., Weizenbaum, E., Frishberg, B., Silberstein, S. and American Headache Society Choosing Wisely Task Force (2013), Choosing Wisely in Headache Medicine: The American Headache Society’s List of Five Things Physicians and Patients Should Question. Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain, 53: 1651–1659. doi:10.1111/head.12233

2012

Loder E, Burch R, Rizzoli P. The 2012 AHS/AAN guidelines for prevention of episodic migraine: a summary and comparison with other recent clinical practice guidelines. Headache. 2012 Jun;52(6):930-45. doi: 10.1111/j.1526-4610.2012.02185.x.

2010

Evans, R. W., Tepper, S. J., Shapiro, R. E., Sun-Edelstein, C. and Tietjen, G. E. (2010), The FDA Alert on Serotonin Syndrome With Use of Triptans Combined With Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors or Selective Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors: American Headache Society Position Paper. Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain, 50: 1089–1099. doi:10.1111/j.1526-4610.2010.01691.x

2005

Penzien, D. B., Andrasik, F., Freidenberg, B. M., Houle, T. T., Lake, A. E., Lipchik, G. L., Holroyd, K. A., Lipton, R. B., McCrory, D. C., Nash, J. M., Nicholson, R. A., Powers, S. W., Rains, J. C. and Wittrock, D. A. (2005), Guidelines for Trials of Behavioral Treatments for Recurrent Headache, First Edition: American Headache Society Behavioral Clinical Trials Workgroup. Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain, 45: S110–S132. doi:10.1111/j.1526-4610.2005.4502004.x

2004

Dodick, D., Lipton, R. B., Martin, V., Papademetriou, V., Rosamond, W., MaassenVanDenBrink, A., Loutfi, H., Welch, K.Michael., Goadsby, P. J., Hahn, S., Hutchinson, S., Matchar, D., Silberstein, S., Smith, T. R., Purdy, R. A., Saiers, J. and The Triptan Cardiovascular Safety Expert Panel (2004), Consensus Statement: Cardiovascular Safety Profile of Triptans (5-HT1B/1D Agonists) in the Acute Treatment of Migraine. Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain, 44: 414–425. doi:10.1111/j.1526-4610.2004.04078.x

Additional Resources: Practice Parameters, Guidelines, and Classification

American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Practice Guidelines

International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD), 3rd Edition

Guidelines for Trials of Behavioral Treatments for Recurrent Headache: Purpose, Process, and Product

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