Disability from posttraumatic headache is compounded by coexisting posttraumatic stress disorder

Louise S Roper, Peter Nightingale, Zhangjie Su, James L Mitchell, Antonio Belli, Alexandra J Sinclair

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Citations (Scopus)
146 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Posttraumatic headache (PTH) occurs in up to 82% of patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) occurs in 39% of those with PTH. This study evaluates whether PTSD affects PTH disability.

METHODS: Eighty-six patients with TBI were prospectively evaluated in a secondary care trauma center. Headache disability was assessed using the Headache Impact Test version 6 and signs indicative of PTSD using the PTSD Check List Civilian version.

RESULTS: Increased PTSD-type symptoms were significantly associated with increased headache disability (p<0.001), as were employment status and loss of consciousness (p=0.049 and 0.016, respectively). Age was negatively correlated with headache disability (Spearman's correlation rho=0.361, p=0.001).

CONCLUSION: Increased severity of PTSD-type symptoms is significantly associated with increased headache disability in patients with chronic PTH. Managing PTSD symptoms in patients with chronic PTH may facilitate headache management.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1991-1996
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Pain Research
Volume10
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 21 Aug 2017

Bibliographical note

Journal of Pain Research and Dove Medical Press are the original place of publication.

Keywords

  • chronic headache
  • traumatic brain injury
  • neurotrauma

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