Migraine and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) linked?

A small study has shown that Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) may be more common in Migraine sufferers than in the general population. 32 of the participants had less than 15 Migraines per month and 28 had more than 15 per month. The study showed PTSD was more frequent in those experiencing more than 15 Migraine attacks per month and concluded that PTSD may be a risk factor for Migraine.
To read the article click HERE.

A study last year showed that almost one in every five US soldiers returning Iraq was being diagnosed with Migraine. Questionnaires completed by almost 2,200 US Army soldiers within the first 90 days of returning from a year of combat duty in Iraq were evaluated. 19% were found to suffer from Migraine, 32% tested positive for depression, 22% met the standard for PTSD, and 13% tested positive for anxiety. 50% of those who suffered with Migraines and 27% of those who did not were also clinically depressed. 39% of the Migraine sufferers and 18% of non-Migraine sufferers also had PTSD. 22% of those with Migraine and 10% of those without experienced anxiety disorders.

The study author Maj. Jay C. Erickson, M.D., a neurologist at Madigan Army Medical Center at Fort Lewis, in Tacoma, WA said that this information should serve as a wake-up call to both military and civilian doctors to evaluate for psychological troubles when a patient suffers with Migraine.
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Discussing Your Condition With Your Kids

Freelance writer, journalist, and former award-winning radio reporter, Lisa A. Phillips, has written an article about talking to your kids about your neurological condition (such as Migraine, Epilepsy, Multiple Sclerosis, Head Injury, Muscular Dystrophy) for the March/April 2008 Edition of Neurology Now. Phillips says that even if your kids are too young to comprehend everything about your disease, you probably can't conceal it from them. This article discusses the areas below in detail to ensure open communication.

• Be Honest
• Pick the Right Moment
• Stay Calm
• Use Their Questions as Your Guide
• Don't Overwhelm Your Child
• Accentuate the Positive
• Trust Your Child Accept You
• Prepare for Emergencies
• Know that Kids Want to Help
• Encourage Peer Support
• Never Blame Your Child for Your Disorder

Phillips stresses that when talking to young children you should keep it simple. Talking to your older child may be more difficult. Children as young as 9 or 10 often ask about hereditary factors and you should be prepared to address this. Most older kids know how to use the internet and may research your disease on their own. The problem (as most of us with any disease knows) is that a lot of times it's difficult to tell the difference between credible information and misinformation. The author suggests that in addition to talking to your older child, you teach them how to recognize sites that provide accurate information, direct them to reliable sites and monitor what sites they've been visiting.

To read the entire article click HERE.