Tension-type headache
Meaning of tension-type headache: For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, tension-type headache: (a) means a condition in which within a 12 month period, there are episodes of headache lasting at least 30 minutes, occurring on at least one day per month for at least three consecutive months, and a minimum of ten episodes occur within that 12 month period; and (b) has at least two of the following characteristics: (i) bilateral location; (ii) pressing/tightening (nonpulsating) quality; (iii) mild or moderate intensity; (iv) not aggravated by routine physical activity (such as walking or climbing stairs); and (c) causes clinically significant distress or impairment of social, occupational, educational, or other important areas of functioning; and (d) excludes: (i) cluster headache; (ii) migraine; (iii) headache attributable to structural abnormalities or inflammatory disorders of the head and neck; (iv) headache attributable to systemic disease; and (v) headache that results from normal physiological stress such as exercise, or the temporary effect of extraneous agents. (3) While tension-type headache attracts ICD-10-AM code G44.2, in applying this Statement of Principles the meaning of tension-type headach
Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) — Statement of Principles No. 37 of 2018
At least one of the following factors must as a minimum exist before it can be said that a reasonable hypothesis has been raised connecting tension-type headache or death from tension-type headache with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:
- (1)for chronic tension-type headache in migraine and cluster headache sufferers only, taking a drug as specified, for at least the three months before the clinical onset of tension-type headache;
Note: chronic tension-type headache and taking a drug as specified are defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
- (2)having a clinically significant disorder of mental health as specified, within the one year before the clinical onset of tension-type headache;
Note: clinically significant disorder of mental health as specified is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
- (3)experiencing a category 2 stressor within the one year before the clinical onset of tension-type headache;
Note: category 2 stressor is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
- (4)having insomnia as specified at the time of the clinical onset of tension- type headache;
Note: insomnia as specified is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
- (5)having concussion or moderate to severe traumatic brain injury within the seven days before the clinical onset of tension-type headache, where tension-type headache has developed within the seven days of: (a) injury to the head; or (b) regaining consciousness following the injury to the head; or (c) discontinuing medication that impairs the ability to sense or report headache following the injury to the head;
- (6)taking a drug as specified, for at least the three months before the clinical worsening of tension-type headache;
Note: taking a drug as specified is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
- (7)having a clinically significant disorder of mental health as specified, within the one year before the clinical worsening of tension-type headache;
Note: clinically significant disorder of mental health as specified is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
- (8)experiencing a category 2 stressor within the one year before the clinical worsening of tension-type headache;
Note: category 2 stressor is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
- (9)having insomnia as specified at the time of the clinical worsening of tension-type headache;
Note: insomnia as specified is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
- (10)undergoing treatment with a nitric oxide donor, at the time of the clinical worsening of tension-type headache;
Note: nitric oxide donor is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
- (11)having concussion or moderate to severe traumatic brain injury within the seven days before the clinical worsening of tension-type headache, where tension-type headache has worsened within the seven days of: (a) injury to the head; or (b) regaining consciousness following the injury to the head; or (c) discontinuing medication that impairs the ability to sense or report headache following the injury to the head;
- (12)inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for tension-type headache;
Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 9(6) to 9(12) apply only to material contribution to, or aggravation of, the condition where it was suffered or contracted before or during (but did not arise out of) the person’s relevant service.
Balance of Probabilities (BoP) — Statement of Principles No. 38 of 2018
4 factors
At least one of the following factors must exist before it can be said that, on the balance of probabilities, tension-type headache or death from tension- type headache is connected with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:
- (1)for chronic tension-type headache in migraine and cluster headache sufferers only, taking a drug as specified, for at least the three months before the clinical onset of tension-type headache;
Note: chronic tension-type headache and taking a drug as specified are defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
- (2)taking a drug as specified, for at least the three months before the clinical worsening of tension-type headache;
Note: taking a drug as specified is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
- (3)undergoing treatment with a nitric oxide donor, at the time of the clinical worsening of tension-type headache;
Note: nitric oxide donor is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
- (4)inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for tension-type headache;
Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 9(2) to 9(4) apply only to material contribution to, or aggravation of, the condition where it was suffered or contracted before or during (but did not arise out of) the person’s relevant service.
