SHDM16003U Investigations and Management of Headache and Facial Pain

Volume 2024/2025
Education
Content

The course covers the following topics:

  • Neuroimaging
  • Neurophysiology
  • Quantitative sensory testing (QST) and other examination modalities
  • CSF pressure
  • Treatment principles and opportunities for acute and preventive treatment of:
  • Migraine headaches
  • Tension-type headaches
  • trigeminal neuralgia and other cranial neuralgias
  • cluster headaches and other trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias
  • medication-overuse headache
  • Secondary types or headache.

 

The content of the course is structured to develop your understanding of the imaging methods and other laboratory tests that are used in the work-up of primary headache diagnosis or when suspecting a secondary headache condition. We will also cover laboratory tests that may be used to subcategorize primary headaches. The course will describe the treatment principles and strategies for primary headaches and trigeminal neuralgia and other cranial neuralgias. Treatment principles of medication-overuse headache, idiopathic intracranial hypertension and other important secondary headache will also be covered. Treatment modalities that are covered include non-pharmaceutical, pharmaceutical, neurostimulation and neurosurgical procedures. Novel treatment modalities and future development will also be covered.

The course is organized as a combination of face-face lectures, group work, case studies, and journal clubs provided and supervised by the world leading specialists in the field. As the Master Program is planned as a part time study, a significant part of the work load is required to be carried out as home work with blended learning and the reading of literature in between the modules. A personal mentor will be appointed to each student and there will be provided possibilities for platform based discussion forums between the students and in relation to their mentors.

Learning Outcome

On completion of the course, the participants should be able to:

Knowledge

  • acquire knowledge and insight into existing and new examination methods, relevance for the individual patient, sources of error and opportunities.

  • gain knowledge on the highest international level about basic and clinical pharmacology, the background for medical treatment and the correct use of medicine for headache patients.

  • review the operative intervention in trigeminal neuralgia and use of neuromodulation for acute and preventive treatment for primary headache types.

     

    Skills:

  • learn how to set an optimal and relevant program of examination for all the primary and secondary types of headache and facial pain. Consideration will be made for various international healthcare systems and optimal use of available resources.
  • initiate and maintain optimal treatment in the acute phase as well as prevention, and learn how to assess and adjust treatment response over time.
  • assess and critically discuss scientific articles about examinations and treatment.

 

Competencies:

  • optimize diagnostic reports and contribute to the future development and validation of new diagnostic initiatives.
  • perform, initiate and participate in new types of treatment on a scientific basis, to initiate new types of examination
  • help and develop national and international treatment guidelines.

See Literature List in Absalon

Applicants must have master’s or bachelor’s degree within Pharmacy, Medicine, Psychology, Public Health, Nursing, Physical Therapy or the equivalent from a university in or outside of Denmark.
The teaching methods will include a combination of interactive lectures, group exercises, case studies, journal clubs, essay and computer-based (electronic) learning exercises (WIKIs). Using Absalon for learning materials will allow team work for reading, interpreting and discussing selected scientific articles and cases.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 25
  • Preparation
  • 50
  • Exercises
  • 10
  • E-Learning
  • 60
  • Study Groups
  • 20
  • Guidance
  • 5
  • Exam
  • 35
  • Total
  • 205
Oral
Collective
Credit
7.5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written assignment, 72 hours
Type of assessment details
The student will write a 5 pages essay/report based on a given case. The essay/report should illustrate an insight into the optimal diagnostic strategies, relevant examinations, treatments and prevention. Relevant literature should support the essay illustrated by 5-6 articles whereas a complete literature search is not required.
Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
Exam period

See exam schedule

Re-exam

A re-examination will be possible if the student fails the first examination.

The exam form for the reexam is the same as the ordinary exam. See dates in the exam schedule.

 

 

Criteria for exam assesment

To achieve the maximum grade of 12, the student must be able to:

 

Knowledge

  • demonstrate a detailed knowledge and insight into existing and new examination methods and be able to explain the relevance for the individual patient.

  • demonstrate a detailed knowledge of the highest international level about basic and clinical pharmacology, the background for medical treatment and the correct use of medicine for headache patients.

  • discuss the operative intervention in trigeminal neuralgia and use of neuromodulation for acute and preventive treatment for primary headache types.

 

Skills:

  •  demonstrate an optimal and relevant program of examination for all the primary and secondary types of headache and facial pain.
  •  demonstrate the most optimal general treatment in the acute phase as well as prevention in primary headache disorders and cranial neuralgias

 

Competencies:

  • optimize diagnostic reports and contribute to the future development and validation of new diagnostic initiatives.
  • initiate and participate in new types of treatment on a scientific basis
  • show how to develop national and international treatment guidelines.