Medication overuse headache: a critical review of end points in recent follow-up studies

Table 1 Study characteristics at baseline

Study, reference	Country	Number included (% men)	Age group (range)	TTH included	Duration (months)	Design
2006 [20]	Denmark	337 (27)	17–86	Yes	8	Retrospective case series
2007 [21]	Serbia	240 (24)	17–76	Yes	12	Case series
2007 [22]	Italy	106 (18)	19–71	No	12^f	Case series
2008 [23]	Italy	118 (16)	–	No	12	Randomized controlled^a
2009 [24]	Norway	61 (39)	18–70	Yes	12	Randomized controlled^b
2009 [25]	Norway	100 (26)	18–70	Yes	12	Double-blind RCT^c + randomized controlled^c
2009 [26]	Italy	215 (19)	–	No	12	Case series
2009 [27]	Italy	93 (–)	–	No	12	Controlled^d
2009 [15]	Italy	260 (–)	–	No	12	Controlled^e

^aThree groups: advice alone versus structured detoxification as in- or outpatient
^bThree groups: prophylactic treatment from the start without detoxification versus standard outpatient detoxification program without prophylactic treatment from the start versus no specific treatment (controls)
^cTwo groups: placebo-controlled, double-blind randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluating efficacy of prednisolone on withdrawal headache followed by an controlled design evaluating long-term outcome of patients treated by neurologist versus GP
^dTwo groups; randomization not stated: behavioral plus pharmacological treatment versus pharmacological treatment only
^eTwo groups, randomization not stated: inpatient versus day-hospital withdrawal treatment
^fData on 3 and 5 years follow-up also available

ISSN: 1129-2377