A retrospective, comparative study on the frequency of abuse in migraine and chronic daily headache.
OBJECTIVE
To assess and contrast the relative frequency of a past history of physical and/or sexual abuse in patients with chronic daily headache (CDH) versus migraine.


BACKGROUND
A number of risk factors have been identified as risk factors for chronification of headache disorders. Limited data exist regarding the influence of physical and/or sexual abuse on primary headache disorders.


METHODS
This was a retrospective chart review of 183 consecutive new headache patients seen from December 2004 through August 2005 at an outpatient tertiary-care center. Patients were included in the study if they had chronic daily headache (with criteria for medication over-use headache or chronic migraine), or migraine with or without aura. A history of physical and/or sexual abuse was systematically asked of all headache patients at their first visit in the clinic. This information was then transferred to a semi-standardized form and the relative frequency of abuse in both groups contrasted.


RESULTS
Of the 161 patients included in the study, 90.1% were female with a mean age of 36.4 +/- 12.0. A total of 59.0% of the patients were diagnosed with CDH and 41.0% were diagnosed with migraine. Overall, 34.8% of all patients, 40.0% of CDH patients, and 27.3% of migraine patients had a history of physical and/or sexual abuse. The relative frequency of a history of physical and/or sexual abuse was higher in the CDH group as compared to the migraine group (P = .048).


CONCLUSIONS
The relative frequency of abuse is higher in CDH sufferers than migraineurs, suggesting that physical and sexual abuse may be risk factors for chronification.
Peterlin
B Lee
BL
Department of Neurology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Ward
Thomas
T
Lidicker
Jeffrey
J
Levin
Morris
M
D005260:Female; D020773:Headache Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008499:Medical Records; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014754:Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data