Filling Procedures of Headache Diary as a Tool for the Monitoring and Diagnosis of Headache Disorders: A Literature Review

Abstract

Headache diary is an important tool for improving the diagnostic accuracy and clinical monitoring of headache disorders, particularly in conditions with variable or chronic patterns such as migraine. In the absence of a gold-standard diagnostic test, prospective documentation helps reduce recall bias and supports classification based on ICHD-3 criteria. This narrative review summarizes the evidence on the use of paper headache diaries (PHD) and electronic headache diaries (EHD) in clinical practice. Various studies demonstrate that both formats enhance diagnostic precision, facilitate identification of triggers and attack patterns, and support evaluation of abortive and prophylactic therapies. EHD provides additional advantages through automated time-stamping, graphical trend visualization, and easier longitudinal analysis, although its use may be limited by device availability and digital literacy. Evidence from local and international studies consistently highlights the value of headache diaries across primary, secondary, and tertiary care settings. Overall, headache diaries remain practical, effective instruments that should be integrated into routine clinical management of headache disorders.