The impact of trauma exposure on headache outcomes

ABSTRACT Limited research exists regarding the relationship between trauma exposure and headache in youth despite the knowledge that pain symptoms often occur with persistent traumatic stress. This study examined the relationship between trauma exposure and headache outcomes in youth via retrospective chart review for 95 participants evaluated through a multidisciplinary headache clinic in a children’s hospital. Youth with trauma exposure were more likely to report chronic and daily headaches, greater severity in headache disability, and more frequent headaches than youth without trauma history. Our results indicate the importance of screening as trauma exposure may contribute to headache outcomes and headache-related disability.