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DISABILITY FROM POST-TRAUMATIC HEADACHE IS COMPOUNDED BY PTSD
  1. Louise Roper1,
  2. Peter Nightingale2,
  3. Zhangjie Su1,
  4. Antonio Belli1,
  5. Alexandra Sinclair1
  1. 1 University of Birmingham
  2. 2 University Hospitals Birmingham

Abstract

Background Post-traumatic headache (PTH) occurs in up to 82% of patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) occurs in 39% of those with TBI. This study evaluates whether PTSD affects PTH disability.

Methods 151 consecutive patients with TBI were evaluated from a secondary care trauma centre. Headache disability was assessed using the Headache Impact Test version 6 (HIT 6) and PTSD using PTSD Check List Civilian version (PCL-C).

Results In patients with chronic PTH, increased PTSD symptoms were significantly associated with increased headache disability (p<0.001), as were employment status and loss of consciousness (p=0.049 and 0.016, respectively). Age was negatively correlated with headache disability (Spearman's correlation −0.361, p=0.001).

Conclusion Increased PTSD severity is significantly associated with increased headache disability in patients with chronic PTH. Managing PTSD in patients with chronic PTH may facilitate headache management.

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