Recent research has indicated that migraine suferers are more apt to have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than the general population, Therefore the identification and treatment of PTSD in migraine sufferers may be an important part of their care that may reduce migraine-related disability.

The study found that PTSD was present in 30.3% of those with chronic daily headache and 22.4% of those with episodic migraine. By comparison, approximately 8% of the population is estimated to have PTSD.

Physical or sexual abuse was reported by 42.2% of all migraineurs in the present studyy and a total of 64.9% of migraineurs with PTSD reported physical or sexual abuse. Abuse therefore may result in not just psychological distress from PTSD but also physical pain such as migraine.

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