Childhood Trauma Linked to Increased Risk of Headaches in Adulthood

Research suggests that individuals who have experienced childhood trauma may be more likely to suffer from painful headaches as adults. A recent meta-analysis of existing evidence found that those who reported traumatic events in their childhood were noticeably more likely to report headache disorders than those without such a history.

Childhood trauma is unfortunately common, with at least one in seven children in the U.S. experiencing abuse or neglect in the past year. Additionally, about 64% of American adults today report experiencing at least one potentially traumatic event during their childhood, such as witnessing violence or losing someone in the family to suicide.

In addition to immediate health impacts on children, trauma is known to increase the risk of various problems later in life, including substance use disorders, delayed learning, and sexually transmitted infections. The authors of this study wanted to determine if childhood trauma also raises the risk of headache disorders.

The new study, published in Neurology, involved a meta-analysis of data from 28 relevant studies conducted in 19 countries, with a total of 154,739 participants. Overall, people with a history of childhood trauma were found to be 48% more likely to be diagnosed with primary headaches than those without such a history. The risk was even higher for individuals who experienced multiple traumatic events in childhood. The study also found that different types of trauma, such as threat traumas (abuse or violence) and deprivation traumas (neglect or the death of a parent), were associated with increased headache risk.

Although the findings do not establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship between headaches and childhood trauma, the study is the largest meta-analysis of its kind and suggests a genuine causal connection. The researchers plan to continue studying how childhood trauma may impact the risk of other health problems, such as chronic and autoimmune diseases.

Furthermore, the research indicates the need to improve the care of headache patients by screening for childhood trauma and educating patients about the link between childhood trauma and headaches. The study authors propose that collaboration between neurology, psychiatry, and psychology practices could help address childhood trauma from multiple points of care.

Source: Childhood Trauma Might Raise Risk of Headaches in Adulthood