Migraine and PTSD Affect Men and Women Differently

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Although both migraine headaches and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are more prevalent in women than men, men may have greater odds of suffering from migraine and PTSD together, according to a study recently posted online in Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain. The mechanism for this association is not known, but the age of a patient at the time of a traumatic life event resulting in PTSD may be an important factor for the sex differences. The two most common traumatic events reported by migraineurs with PTSD—transportation accidents and combat—are likely to occur after the age of 12.

As thousands of U.S. troops return home with PTSD, understanding the association between PTSD and migraine may be a key to helping them recover their health and mental well-being.

Read more about “What Works” in PTSD care, in Psychiatric News: http://pn.psychiatryonline.org/content/46/7/4.1.full.