Study conclusions:1
- "The frequency of PTSD in Migraineurs, whether episodic or chronic, is higher than the historically reported prevalence of PTSD in the general population.
- In addition, in the subset of Migraineurs with depression, PTSD frequency is greater in CDH sufferers than in episodic Migraineurs.
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Finally, the presence of PTSD is independently associated with greater
headache-related disability in Migraineurs."
Study author comments:
"Despite the clinical perception that military combat is the most common (cause), the most common causes of PTSD are interpersonal traumas, including sexual abuse... In women, the lifetime prevalence of PTSD is twice that of men... The implications are such that abuse causes not just psychological distress from PTSD but also physical pain such as migraine, and there is an increased disability seen in those migraine sufferers with PTSD than those without PTSD." ~~B. Lee Peterlin, DO3
"Pharmacologically, dual action antidepressants have efficacy for both migraine and PTSD, but the serotonin-reuptake inhibitor antidepressants regarded as first-line treatments for PTSD have performed poorly for migraine prophylaxis." ~~Dr. James L. Griffith2, 3
Summary and comments:
The data from this study clearly establishes that PTSD is more common among those with Migraine and chronic daily headache. Dr. Griffith's comments in his research commentary are well placed. There are significant treatment implications to the increased prevalence of PTSD in those with Migraine and chronic daily headache. Some Migraine and headache specialists are now leaning more toward SNRI antidepressants that affect both serotonin and norepinephrine than the SSRI antidepressants that affect serotonin only. The SNRIs are working quite well for Migraine and headache prevention in some patients.
Hopefully, more research will be forthcoming about the connections between Migraine and major depressive disorder, and PTSD, and other mental health issues. The development of additional treatments that could be used to treat both headache disorders and mental health disorders could be quite beneficial.
