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

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.