WCN 2023 | Improved HCP training is needed in trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias

Elizabeth Leroux, MD, FRCP, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada sheds light on the great need for improved healthcare provider training and evidence-based treatment guidelines for trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias (TACs). The rarity of TACs contributes to the insufficient training in headache medicine. To improve timely recognition and management of these disorders for patients, it is crucial to implement additional programs that educate HCPs about key symptoms. In terms of guidelines, both US and European organizations have made efforts to establish protocols for diagnosing and managing cluster headaches and other TACs, however these guidelines face a challenge—there is a lack of high-quality evidence as a foundation. While guidelines do exist, much of the advice relies on clinical expertise rather than evidence-based data. Dr. Leroux acknowledges the current limitations but expresses optimism about the evolving landscape, anticipating improved strategies for studying the disease and the potential for higher-quality evidence to emerge in the near future. This interview took place at the World Congress of Neurology (WCN) 2023 in Montreal, Canada.

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