People who have experienced traumatic events as children, such as abuse, neglect, or household dysfunction, may be more likely to experience headache disorders as adults, according to a meta-analysis published in the Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology (1^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Trauma in childhood may increase risk of adult headache disorders

Go to source). This study does not prove that such events cause headaches; rather, it demonstrates an association.

Childhood Trauma Linked to Headache Disorders in Adulthood

“Traumatic events in childhood can have serious health implications later in life,” said study author Catherine Kreatsoulas, Ph.D., of Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston, Massachusetts. “Our meta-analysis confirms that childhood traumatic events are important risk factors for headache disorders in adulthood, including migraine, tension headaches, cluster headaches, and chronic or severe headaches. This is a risk factor that we cannot ignore.”

Number of Traumatic Childhood Events Increases the Likelihood of Headaches

Of the total number of individuals, 48,625 (31%), reported at least one traumatic childhood experience, and 24,956 (16%), were diagnosed with primary headaches. A primary headache problem was diagnosed in 26% of participants who experienced at least one traumatic childhood incident, compared to 12% of those who had no traumatic childhood events.

Researchers discovered that those who had experienced one or more traumatic childhood events were 48% more likely to have headache disorders than those who had not. They also discovered that the number of traumatic childhood events enhanced the likelihood of developing headaches. People who had experienced one type of traumatic event had a 24% increased risk of a headache disorder when compared to people who had not experienced childhood trauma, while people who had experienced four or more types of traumatic events were more than twice as likely to have a headache disorder.

Threat Trauma Poses the Greatest Risk for Headaches

Researchers also investigated the relationship between different types of stressful childhood occurrences. Physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, witnessing and/or fear of violence, or major family problems were all classified as threat traumas. Neglect, economic adversity, having an incarcerated household member, divorce or separation, parental death, and living in a household with mental illness, chronic disability or disease, or alcohol or substance addiction were all classified as deprivation traumas.