Abstract
Objective: describe the incidence and the impact of headaches in patients suffering from Post-traumatic disorder.
Background: A post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an adjustment disorder occurring after direct personal exposure to a traumatic event. Beyond the psychological symptoms, patients with PTSD may express functional complaints, including chronic pain. Few studies have focused on the study of headaches in patients suffering from PTSD
Design/Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted between January 2013 and December 2015 with 101 patients suffering from PTSD. The incidence of headaches and their different types were studied through a self-administered questionnaire. The impact of headaches was measured according to a scale of quality of life (HIT-6), combined with a mood questionnaire (POMS).
Results: Among 101 patients studied, 37 patients have suffered from headaches following the PTSD while 18 reported persistent headache, before and after the PTSD: thus, the incidence of PTSD post-headache was 36.6% with an overall incidence of 54.5 %. HIT-6 score was respectively at 58,8 +/− 8,3, with a major impact for 56.4%. A significant correlation between the severity of PTSD and the intensity of headache was found on the correlation of Spearman (r = 0.35; p = 0.009). Following the PTSD, tension headaches was reported especially (45.5%). A prescription of psychotropic drugs or an association with mild trauma brain injury did not appear as an aggravating factor (p = 1, p = 0.3). The mood profile showed a mean score higher in patients with headaches (p = 0.039), especially marked on the averages of the anger and depression scores (p = 0.01; 0.047).
Conclusions: Headaches can be recognized in painful complaints described in a PTSD especially as they may appear as a potential indicator of the severity of PTSD. Their research reinforces the interest of a multidisciplinary management of PTSD.
Disclosure: Dr. Guilloton has nothing to disclose. Dr. Defrance has nothing to disclose. Dr. Blanc has nothing to disclose. Dr. Trousselard has nothing to disclose. Dr. Simson has nothing to disclose.
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