The association of migraine with menstrually related mood disorders and childhood sexual abuse

Childhood abuse and risk of migraine: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Childhood abuse is associated with an increased risk of migraines. However, the literature on this association is limited.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the pooled effect size of the association between childhood abuse and migraines.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

System review and meta-analysis.

METHODS

A systematic literature search for studies published until September 20, 2023, was performed using the Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science databases. Specifically, original articles reporting the statistical effect size (odds ratio) of the association between childhood abuse and migraines were selected. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using random- or fixed-effects models. Publication bias was examined using funnel plots, and sensitivity analysis was used to explore the stability of the pooled results.

RESULTS

Twelve studies involving 110,776 participants were included. Individuals with childhood abuse (OR = 1.60, 95 % CI: 1.49, 1.71) were at increased risk of migraine when compared with individuals with no childhood abuse. Of the different types of childhood abuse examined, sexual abuse (OR = 1.71, 95 % CI: 1.43, 2.04), physical abuse (OR = 1.47, 95 % CI: 1.38, 1.56), and emotional abuse (OR = 1.71, 95 % CI: 1.52, 1.93) were associated with an increased risk of migraine.

CONCLUSIONS

Childhood abuse increases migraine risk. Multifaceted interventions to curb abuse and related behaviors can effectively reduce migraine risk. However, considering that multiple factors, such as obesity and anxiety, are causatively associated with both childhood abuse and migraines, our findings should be interpreted with caution.

Brief Report: Child Sexual Abuse and Somatic Symptoms in Older Adulthood for Men

Somatic symptom disorders are often misdiagnosed or minimized among men, especially in middle and older adulthood. Previous research investigating links between somatic disorders and early trauma, such as childhood sexual abuse (CSA), have mostly been based on small, non-representative, female samples using cross-sectional designs. The current study used data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study to assess associations between CSA and somatic symptom severity among men in middle- and late-adulthood (mid-50s to early 70s) with histories of CSA (n = 129) and a matched, non-abused comparison group (n = 2,322). Childhood (e.g., co-occurring adversities and parental education) and demographic background variables (e.g., marital status, self-rated health, and income) were controlled. Growth curve modeling was used to explore trajectories of somatic symptoms over time. Results indicated that the CSA group had higher somatic symptom severity than the non-abused group (γ01 = .10, p < .05); symptoms decreased over time for both groups with no significant differences in the rate of change. Healthcare providers should include CSA in assessments for men. Because contemporary somatic symptoms may represent unresolved early life course trauma, mental health support services should be expanded for this population. Future research should explore gender-appropriate treatment modalities for older men with histories of CSA.

Effect of physical and sexual violence during childhood and/or adolescence on the development of menstrual related mood disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background. Abuse in early life stages has been proposed as an etiological risk factor for developing menstrually-related mood disorders (MRMDs). Objetive. To evaluate whether there is a relation between the occurrence of physical and/or sexual violence in childhood and/or adolescence and the development of MRMDs in adulthood. Method. A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect, with the route (“Premenstrual Syndrome”[Mesh]) OR (“Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder”[MeSH]) AND (“Violence”[Mesh]) / (“menstrually-related mood disorders” AND “abuse”). Fifty-four articles were initially reviewed and 32 were excluded based on the criteria. Twenty-two articles were thoroughly reviewed. Finally, five articles (publication years 2014, 2013, 2012, 2007, and 2003) were included in the systematic review and submitted to a meta-analysis. Results. Results indicate that having been exposed to physical and/or sexual violence in childhood and/or adolescence increases 1.99 times the risk of experiencing MRMDs in adulthood in comparison with women who did not experience that type of violence (odds ratio [OR] = 1.99; 95% confidence interval [1.58, 2.51]). Discussion and conclusion. The present work provides evidence that a woman who experienced violence through physical and/or sexual abuse during childhood and/or adolescence has a greater risk of developing MRMDs in adulthood.

Impacts of sexual abuse in childhood and adolescence: an integrative review

This article identifies the impacts of sexual abuse in childhood and adolescence. We conducted an integrative literature review in September 2018 using the Virtual Health Library. A search was conducted using the following descriptors: Sexual Abuse of Children and Adolescents and Sexual Abuse or Child Development. The inclusion criteria were open access full-text original articles published between 2013 and September 2018 in Portuguese, English or Spanish. Sixteen eligible articles were selected after reading the titles and abstracts. The full texts of these articles were read and organized into a table. The studies show that sexual abuse in childhood and adolescence has lifelong psychological, physical, sexual and social impacts. The findings of this study can help alert health care professionals to the importance of investigating the signs and symptoms of sexual abuse given the multiple impacts of abuse on victims' lives.

Mental health indicators fifty years later: A population-based study of men with histories of child sexual abuse

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is a widely acknowledged trauma that affects a substantial number of boys/men and has the potential to undermine mental health across the lifespan. Despite the topic's importance, few studies have examined the long-term effects of CSA on mental health in middle and late life for men. Most empirical studies on the effects of CSA have been conducted with women, non-probability samples, and samples of young or emerging adults with inadequate control variables. Based on complex trauma theory, the current study investigated: a) the effect of CSA on mental health outcomes (depressive symptoms, somatic symptom severity, hostility) in late life for men, and b) the moderating effects of childhood adversities and masculine norms in the relationship between CSA and the three mental health outcomes. Using a population-based sample from the 2004-2005 Wisconsin Longitudinal Study, multivariate analyses found that CSA was positively related to both depressive and somatic symptoms and increased the likelihood of hostility for men who reported a history of CSA. Both childhood adversities and masculine norms were positively related to the three outcomes for the entire sample. Among CSA survivors, childhood adversities exerted a moderating effect in terms of depressive symptoms. Mental health practitioners should include CSA and childhood adversities in assessment and treatment with men. To more fully understand the effects of CSA, future studies are needed that use longitudinal designs, compare male and female survivors, and examine protective mechanisms such as social support.

The influence of early life sexual abuse on oxytocin concentrations and premenstrual symptomatology in women with a menstrually related mood disorder

Oxytocin (OT), associated with affiliation and social bonding, social salience, and stress/pain regulation, may play a role in the pathophysiology of stress-related disorders, including menstrually-related mood disorders (MRMD's). Adverse impacts of early life sexual abuse (ESA) on adult attachment, affective regulation, and pain sensitivity suggest ESA-related OT dysregulation in MRMD pathophysiology. We investigated the influence of ESA on plasma OT, and the relationship of OT to the clinical phenomenology of MRMD's. Compared to MRMD women without ESA (n=40), those with ESA (n=20) displayed significantly greater OT [5.39pg/mL (SD, 2.4) vs. 4.36pg/mL (SD, 1.1); t (58)=-2.26, p=0.03]. In women with ESA, OT was significantly, inversely correlated with premenstrual psychological and somatic symptoms (r's=-0.45 to -0.64, p's<0.05). The relationship between OT and premenstrual symptomatology was uniformly low and non-significant in women without ESA. In women with ESA, OT may positively modulate MRMD symptomatology.