[Primary headaches: a diagnostic approach by non-neurologist doctors].

Objective: To evaluate the knowledge of diagnostic and posture of non-neurologist doctors concerning primary headaches.

Method: 91 doctors were asked to diagnose and establish procedures on three patient histories presenting clinic characteristics of migraine without aura (MA), chronic tension-type headache (CTTH) and migraine with aura (MO), according to the International Classification of Headaches-2nd Edition (CIC-II).

Results: MSA: Two professionals (2.2%) were accurate in their diagnostic, 54 (59.3%) said it was migraine but did not specify the subtype. CTTC: 15 doctors (16.5%) diagnosed tension-type headache but did not specify the subtype. MCA: 26 (28.6%) said it was migraine, and only one doctor (1.1%) was right about the subtype. Sixteen doctors (17.6%) said to be aware of CIC-II.

Conclusion: Most of non-neurologist doctors do not know the diagnostic criteria used to diagnose and to classify the most frequent forms of primary headaches.