Investigations and Management of Headache and Facial Pain
Learn to optimize diagnostic reports and contribute to the future development and validation of new diagnostic initiatives on a scientific basis.
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.
5 weeks of blended learning
The first 4 weeks is a part-time online course with online lessons, discussions and quizzes and self-study activities.
The fifth week is full-time, on campus lectures, discussions, group work, and exercises at University of Copenhagen, in Copenhagen, Denmark.
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 and tension-type headaches
- Trigeminal neuralgia and other cranial neuralgias
- Cluster headaches and other trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias
- Medication-overuse headache
- Secondary types of headache.
During the course, you will acquire knowledge and insight into existing and new examination methods, relevance for the individual patient, sources of error and opportunities. You will 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.
The course will give a review the operate intervention in trigeminal neuralgia and use of neuromodulation for acute and preventive treatment for primary headache types. Moreover, you will learn to set an optimal and relevant programme of examination for all the primary and secondary types of headache and facial pain. Considerations will be made for various international healthcare systems and optimal use of available resources.
You will be able to initiate and maintain optimal treatment in the acute phase as well as prevention, and learn how to assess and adjust treatment response over time. Furthermore, you will learn to assess and critically discuss scientific articles about examination and treatment.
On completion of the course, you should be able to optimize diagnostic reports and contribute to the future development and validation of new diagnostic initiatives. Moreover, you will learn to perform, initiate and participate in new types of treatment on a scientific basis, to initiate new types of examination. Lastly, you will be able to help and develop national and international treatment guidelines.
Continuing professional development for health care professionals working in the field of headaches
You must meet the following criteria to be admitted to this course:
- Hold a relevant bachelor degree or equivalent
- Have a minimum 2 years of relevant job experience
- Be proficient in English
Find detailed information about the current admission criteria.
This course is offered as a compulsory part of the Master of Headache Disorders.
Priority is given to students enrolled on Master of Headache Disorders. Once the enrolled students have been admitted to the course, the remaining seats are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Duration: | 5 weeks |
Dates: | 10 March – 4 April 2025 (E-learning) 7 - 11 April 2025 (Campus) |
Frequency: | Only available every second year |
Place: | University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark |
Course fee: | EU/EEA citizens: 10,000 DKK Non-EU/EEA citizens: 15,100 DKK |
Level and credit: | Master course; 7.5 ECTS |
Examination: | Exam date |
Application deadline: | 13 January 2025 |
Admission: | To be admitted, you must meet the admission criteria for Master of Headache Disorders |
The opening of the application period is announced via the programme newsletter.
Download course curriculum