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Treatment of PTSD and Chronic Daily Headache

  • Headache (JR Couch, Section Editor)
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Opinion statement

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is often comorbid with chronic migraine (CM) and chronic tension-type headache (CTTH). Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral psychotherapies, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and venlafaxine have demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of PTSD. Amitriptyline, topiramate, sodium valproate, and botulinum toxin A are efficacious for treatment of chronic daily headache (CDH). Treatment studies on individuals with CDH and comorbid PTSD, however, are limited. As such, multiple therapeutic agents or modes of interventions typically are necessary, such that comprehensive treatment simultaneously utilizes approaches with established efficacy for each individual condition.

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Conflict of Interest

Todd A. Smitherman has received research support from Merck. Anna Katherine Black and Christal N. Davis declare no conflict of interest.

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  1. Department of Psychology, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS, 38677, USA

    Todd A. Smitherman PhD, Anna Katherine Black BS & Christal N. Davis

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  1. Todd A. Smitherman PhD
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Correspondence to Todd A. Smitherman PhD.

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Smitherman, T.A., Black, A.K. & Davis, C.N. Treatment of PTSD and Chronic Daily Headache. Curr Treat Options Neurol 16, 312 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11940-014-0312-7

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