Post-traumatic stress disorder is not over-represented in a sample population of migraine patients

Abstract

Introduction Exposure to extreme stress can result in a variety of clinical sequelae, in terms of severity and type, of which post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is the prototype. PTSD was previously associated with chronic pain and primary pain disorders. Objective To evaluate the prevalence of PTSD among migraine patients and to assess its relation to migraine severity. Methods We evaluated 92 consecutive patients fulfilling the international headache society criteria for migraine with and without aura treated in the Headache Clinic of the Soroka University Medical Center in Beer-Sheva using the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS), and headache severity scales (HIT-6 and MIDAS). Results The prevalence of specific traumatic events in migraine patients was 16.3% ( n = 15). Six patients (6.5%) of the 92 patients met the DSM-IV criteria for PTSD. Migraine patients with co-morbid PTSD had higher MIDAS scores than other migraine patients. Conclusions Migraine patients do not suffer from PTSD more than the general population. When they do suffer from PTSD they report high levels of disability.