The Journal of Headache and Pain turns 25!
Published in Healthcare & Nursing, Neuroscience, and General & Internal Medicine
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25th Anniversary The Journal of Headache and Pain
The Journal of Headache and Pain turns 25 this year, with the occasion I would like to express all my gratitude to the many readers, and authors, and all those who have collectively provided an opportunity for our scientific community during this long journey to nurture the fire of evidence verification in the forge of the Journal, for the benefit and advantage of headache patients.
Enumerating the long list of Editors who have succeeded one another over a quarter of a century is a daunting task, but I feel compelled to mention the first who then accepted my humble proposal to join this very perilous adventure, Michael Arthur Moskowitz. His musing star was already high in the sky, but he had no hesitation in accepting my invitation, his proverbial open-mindedness reinforcing the necessary courage not to be afraid of some of the reactions of a scientific community that was at that time not at all inclusive.
The list of scientists who, as Editors, then wished to entrust The Journal of Headache and Pain with their soul includes, but is not exhaustive and others will forgive me, Lars Edvinsson, Lars Jacob Stovner, Rigmor Højland Jensen, Shengyuan Yu in the early days, Cenk Ayata, Antoinette Maassen van den Brink, Uwe Reuter, Messoud Ashina, Simona Sacco, Shuu-Jiun Wang, Anne Ducros later, and most recently Michel Lanteri-Minet, Rashid Giniatullin, Matilde Leonardi, Gianluca Coppola, Shih-Pin Chen, Tissa Vijeratne, Yonggang Wang, Tobias Kurth, Gregory Dussor, Kristian Agmund Haanes, and many, many others.
I would like to thank the representatives of the Scientific Societies whose political decisions have reinforced the mutual exchanges with the Journal, from the European Headache Federation, ever since the first agreement signed under the presidency of Miguel José Láinez, through the process of cultural independence co-managed with Dimos Dimitrios Mitsikostas, the management return to Europe with Christian Lampl, to the tireless activity of the charity Lifting the Burden, where I had the honour of sharing the founding process with Timothy Joseph Steiner, its cultural driving force.
A collective thanks to all the Editorial Boards members past and present, with a due special mention for the Junior Editorial Board and the young new talents of the School of Advanced Studies, always capable of transforming a simple input into a product of great quality, as certified by the citations, the immanent verb of scientific life.
The institutional relationships hosted by The Journal of Headache and Pain have been innumerable, and I must mention the Aids for Management of Common Headache Disorders for Primary Care produced under the auspices of the World Health Organization, and the ongoing co-promotion of pharmacovigilance with the European Medicine Agency.
Finally, quite recently the path of support for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals has found a loyal supporter in the Journal. No disease with global impact can be cared for and nurtured with fruits available only to the few and not for the many who would need it. In this social paradigm, the theme of accessibility of our Journal is entirely relevant.
Modern science has always shared its discoveries through scientific journals, which are the pillars of all scientific disciplines. The products they publish are discussed at congresses, new drugs are proposed, and the evidence generated create solid ground for debate. Medical education constantly refers to them. We must all regard them as the true cornerstones of science and as such their role must be respected, their comparison encouraged.
However, as always in every celebration there is the risk of not devoting enough space to the structure that has enabled success, the publisher Springer Nature in this case.
Ça va sans dire that without the mighty, articulate, vigilant, and proactive structure of Springer Nature the seed would not have sprouted to become a strong tree bearing scientific fruits.
To say that I am excited about this achievement today is true.
There are times in life when it is indispensable to be visionary, at the risk of being considered a little crazy, trying to imagine what is around the corner to anticipate trends or create new ones through innovative ideas, taking risks, and intercepting the cultural needs of a community. Then there are times when it is necessary to consolidate the path we have all travelled together, verifying the results in order to savour the joy.
This is happening exactly now.
Let us all celebrate it together as we now know that we have given an extra voice to our scientific community, having believed in the pluralism of scientific information and the inclusiveness that underlies it, and having committed a part of our cultural life to a just cause.
My heartfelt thanks you all.
Paolo Martelletti
Editor in Chief (Founding)
The Journal of Headache and Pain
2000-2024
Rome, 22 February 2024
Clinical Medicine and Headache Expert
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The Journal of Headache and Pain
The Journal of Headache and Pain is a peer-reviewed open access journal specifically dedicated to researchers involved in all aspects of headache and related pain syndromes, including epidemiology, public health, basic science, translational medicine, clinical trials and real-world data.
Related Collections
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Focus India
Headache disorders, especially migraine, constitute a major neurological health challenge and are increasingly recognized as leading contributors to disability worldwide. Their impact extends beyond episodic pain, influencing cognitive performance, emotional well-being, and overall quality of life. India carries a substantial share of the global migraine burden, yet remains affected by significant gaps in awareness, diagnosis, access to specialist care, and research output. Although global research has clarified many aspects of headache pathophysiology, the expression of these disorders varies across populations due to genetic, environmental, cultural, and healthcare access factors in the Indian context.
Migraine, in particular, demonstrates substantial heterogeneity in symptom patterns, triggers, and response to therapy, underscoring the need for population specific data. India’s vast and heterogeneous population offers a unique opportunity to generate locally relevant epidemiological, clinical, and translational insights. In many regions, underdiagnosis and inadequate treatment remain persistent problems, often compounded by stigma and limited awareness. Understanding the burden of headache disorders within specific communities in India is essential for designing effective public health strategies, improving diagnostic pathways, and tailoring management approaches. Moreover, the chronic nature of recurrent headaches places a significant economic burden on individuals and healthcare systems through lost productivity and frequent medical consultations. Through this Collection, we aim to stimulate nationally driven research, foster collaboration across institutions and care settings, and strengthen India’s contribution to global headache and brain health science.
Topics of interest include but are not limited to:
- Epidemiology of migraine in India
- Management strategies of migraine in Indian patients
- Cultural perceptions of tension-type headache
- Treatment approaches for cluster headaches
- Trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias in diverse populations
- Chronic daily headache management strategies
- Impact of lifestyle factors on headache prevalence
- Public health initiatives for headache awareness
- Innovations in headache research methodologies
We welcome submissions from author groups with their main affiliated institution in India. Cross-international authorship groups are welcome to submit their work to The Journal of Headache and Pain outside of this Collection.
This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3, Good Health and Well-Being.
All submissions in this collection undergo the journal’s standard peer review process. Similarly, all manuscripts authored by a Guest Editor(s) will be handled by the Editor-in-Chief. As an open access publication, this journal levies an article processing fee (details here). We recognize that many key stakeholders may not have access to such resources and are committed to supporting participation in this issue wherever resources are a barrier. For more information about what support may be available, please visit OA funding and support, or email OAfundingpolicy@springernature.com or the Editor-in-Chief.
Publishing Model: Open Access
Deadline: Dec 01, 2026
Focus China
Headache disorders, particularly migraine, represent a significant and growing public health concern with a major impact on disability and quality of life. While research has advanced our global understanding, the specific manifestations, burdens, and management challenges of these conditions within unique populations require dedicated attention. In China, factors such as vast geographical disparities, rapid urbanization, diverse ethnicities, and a unique healthcare system structure present distinctive opportunities and challenges in the recognition, diagnosis, and treatment of headache disorders.
This thematic Collection, “Focus China”, aims to illuminate the landscape of headache medicine in China by exploring epidemiological patterns, clinical characteristics, healthcare access, traditional and integrative medicine approaches, and the socio-economic impact of headache disorders across the country.
We invite submissions of original research, systematic and narrative reviews, editorials, rapid reviews, and commentaries on topics including, but not limited to:
• The epidemiology, burden, and clinical features of migraine and other headache disorders in specific Chinese populations and regions.
• Advanced neuroimaging studies identifying unique endophenotypes, structural and functional brain alterations, and biomarkers of headache disorders in the Chinese cohort.
• Insights into the pathophysiology of headache disorders from a Chinese perspective, including research on epigenetics, neuron-glia interactions, and multi-omics.
• Studies on the integration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) with conventional headache management.
• Unique cultural, environmental, and genetic factors influencing headache disorders in China.
• The development and validation of diagnostic tools for the Chinese population.
This Collection provides a dedicated platform for researchers and clinicians primarily affiliated with Chinese institutions to share their insights and contribute to the global knowledge of headache science while addressing the specific needs of their region. By fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange, “Focus China” aims to drive meaningful advancements in headache research and patient care across China.
Therefore, the Collection welcomes submissions from author groups with their main affiliated institution in China. Cross-international authorship groups are welcome to submit their work to The Journal of Headache and Pain outside of this Collection.
This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3, Good Health and Well-Being.
All submissions in this collection undergo the journal’s standard peer review process. Similarly, all manuscripts authored by a Guest Editor(s) will be handled by the Editor-in-Chief. As an open access publication, this journal levies an article processing fee (details here). We recognize that many key stakeholders may not have access to such resources and are committed to supporting participation in this issue wherever resources are a barrier. For more information about what support may be available, please visit OA funding and support, or email OAfundingpolicy@springernature.com or the Editor-in-Chief.
Publishing Model: Open Access
Deadline: Oct 13, 2026
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Congratulations on the 25th anniversary of the establishment of The Journal of Headache and Pain, thanks to Prof. Paolo Martelletti and the global headache colleagues to jointly build the headache cause, we will work together to reduce the burden of headache.