Relationship between childhood physical maltreatment and migraine in adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
To study the relationship between childhood physical abuse and migraine in adolescents.


BACKGROUND
Childhood maltreatment might lead to an increased probability of migraine among adults. Nevertheless, the relationship between migraine and childhood abuse is unknown in adolescents.


METHODS
We enrolled 3955 students, ages 13-15, from 3 middle schools. Each participant completed a validated headache questionnaire for headache diagnosis and the Adolescent Depression Inventory (ADI). A classification of physical maltreatment was given to students who reported they had been beaten by parents or elder family members.


RESULTS
A total of 926 (23.4%) students were diagnosed with migraine or probable migraine occurring within the 3 months prior to the survey. Physical maltreatment was reported by 945 (23.9%) students, including a frequency of "rarely" in 762 (19.3%) students and "sometimes or often" in 183 (4.6%). The students reporting physical maltreatment were more likely to suffer migraine or probable migraine compared with those who reported no physical maltreatment (30.3% vs 21.3%, odds ratios = 1.6, 95%, CI: 1.4-1.9, P < .001). A higher frequency of physical maltreatment was associated with a higher likelihood of migraine diagnosis (21.3% vs 28.3%, vs 38.3%, "never" vs "rarely" vs "sometimes or often maltreated," respectively, P < .001). In addition, among the students diagnosed with migraine, those reporting physical maltreatment had higher mean ADI scores, a higher frequency of headaches, and a greater proportion of severe headaches.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that physical maltreatment is associated with migraine in adolescents and that physical maltreatment may be related to an increase in the frequency and intensity of headaches in adolescents with migraines. A history of physical maltreatment may be helpful in the treatment of adolescents suffering from migraine.
Department of Neurology, the Neurological Institute, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Jong-Ling
JL
Fuh
Shuu-Jiun
SJ
Wang
Kai-Dih
KD
Juang
Shiang-Ru
SR
Lu
Yi-Chu
YC
Liao
Shih-Pin
SP
Chen
D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology / Q000639:trends; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013995:Time