Study Links Childhood Trauma to Chronic Pain in Adults

Researchers who examined 75 years of data pulled from 85 studies and more than 800,000 participants, determined that adults who experienced childhood trauma, including direct abuse or neglect, or indirect trauma through household dysfunction, are 45% more likely to report chronic pain. The study identified a link between angiotensin-converting enzymes (ACEs) in childhood and chronic pain such as that experienced in musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and non-MSDs such as headache, migraine, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome. Researchers called the results “extremely concerning,” noting that this could affect more than a billion children worldwide, and stated that there is an “urgent need to develop targeted interventions and support systems" to improve long-term health outcomes for individuals exposed to childhood trauma.”