Diagnosis and management of headaches in young people and adults: NICE guideline.

British Journal of General Practice, August 2013 443 IntroDuCtIon NICE has developed guidelines on management of primary headache disorders in young people and adults.1 The guideline is intended for non-specialist use, particularly for use in primary care where the majority of headaches can be safely diagnosed and managed. Four per cent of adults have a primary care consultation for headache per year2 but GPs lack confidence in the diagnosis and management of primary headache disorders, and can be anxious about missing serious secondary causes.3 Improved recognition of the common headache disorders and better targeting of available treatments should reduce the burden of headache without requiring substantial additional resources. If specialist advice is required the guideline recommends that this can be via a neurologist or GP with a special interest in headache.