Study results
Researchers surveyed 949 women with Migraine about their history as outlined above under the study methods. At the beginning of the study, 1,032 women ages 18 and older enrolled. Migraine was diagnosed in 949, and all findings are restricted to those participants. Findings:
- 40 percent of the women had chronic Migraine, more than 15 Migraines a month.
- 14 percent of the Migraineurs also had another type of headache disorder, mostly tension-type headache.
- 72 percent reported very severe Migraine-related disability.
- Physical or sexual abuse was reported in 38 percent of the women.
- Both physical and sexual abuse in the past was reported in 12 percent.
- 9 percent of the participants reported physical abuse in childhood.
- 14 percent reported sexual abuse in childhood.
- 21 percent reported being hurt or frightened so badly that they feared for their lives.
- In the last year:
- Approximately 8% reported physical abuse
- 5 percent reported sexual abuse.
- 7 percent fear for their lives secondary to abuse.
- 29 percent of the participants recalled witnessing abusive behavior between adults.
- 27% reported drug or alcohol abuse by adults in their homes when they were children.
Study conclusions
Points the authors felt were important findings:
“The first is that, within the population of women seeking treatment for Migraine, current major depression was associated with an increased prevalence of maltreatment, especially in childhood. The second is that the association of childhood sexual abuse with Migraine and depression increases if abuse carries into adulthood. Major depression in Migraineurs was associated with multiple types of childhood maltreatment. Finally, the association of chronic, disabling headache with childhood maltreatment was dependent on depression.”1
The association between Migraine and depression is well established, but the mechanism is uncertain. The study found women with Migraine who had major depression were twice as likely as those with Migraine alone to report being sexually abused as a child. If the abuse continued past age 12, the women with Migraine were five times more likely to report depression.
