International conference of migraine and headache centers: Prof. Jes Olesen and Prof. Elena Lebedeva visit the Kiel Pain Clinic

There are only a few specialized migraine and headache centers worldwide. The required knowledge, specialization and experience must be built up over long years of research and clinical treatment expertise. The mutual international comparison of standards and the further development of diagnostics and treatment were therefore the focus of an international working meeting on 26-27. May 2016 with Prof. Jes Olesen , founder and director of the Danish Headache Center, University of Copenhagen, Prof. Elena Lebedeva , director of the International Headache Center “Europe-Asia”, State. Ural Medical University, Yekaterinburg, and Prof. Hartmut Göbel, Kiel Pain Clinic.

The Danish Headache Center is a leading global institution through its academic and medical achievements, its scientific research projects and groundbreaking publications, as well as new training programs such as the international Master of Headache program. Through the cooperation and exchange, the participants benefited greatly from the scientific and clinical experiences in the respective institutions. These should be continued and intensified.

The Danish Headache Center at the University of Copenhagen and the Migraine and Headache Center at the Kiel Pain Clinic are based on similar treatment approaches and specialized therapy programs. Both are supra-regional centers and have a national and international catchment area. In Germany, a nationwide headache treatment network was created from the Kiel Pain Clinic. This enables highly specialized care from network partners across the region in all federal states. Scientific studies show very high and sustainable efficiency. This is particularly true for severely affected patients with headaches that are resistant to treatment. Complications of chronic headache disorders can be averted. The affected people can take part in life again. Pain is reduced. Treatment costs are reduced.

The visit led to new ideas and visions for the further development of treatment concepts. Precise diagnostic criteria lead to clear classification and diagnosis of the 367 types of headache known today. Today there are already over 30 different subtypes of migraine. All of this benefits the patient directly. In recent years there have been significant advances in the treatment of migraines and headaches. Today, headaches can be diagnosed more precisely and treated more effectively than almost any other disease of the nervous system. This requires specialists and dedicated treatment locations. Headache centers that are specialized and up-to-date at an international level can provide this. What was unthinkable 20 years ago is now a reality thanks to the commitment of specialized centers. During the meeting, visions for the next generation were worked on. The aim is to relieve migraines and headaches even more effectively and sustainably through specialized, excellent therapy.