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Review
. 2016 Aug 31:5:F1000 Faculty Rev-2116.
doi: 10.12688/f1000research.9017.1. eCollection 2016.

Pathophysiological links between traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic headaches

Robert L Ruff  1 , Kayla Blake  2
Affiliations
Review

Pathophysiological links between traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic headaches

Robert L Ruff et al. F1000Res. .

Abstract

This article reviews possible ways that traumatic brain injury (TBI) can induce migraine-type post-traumatic headaches (PTHs) in children, adults, civilians, and military personnel. Several cerebral alterations resulting from TBI can foster the development of PTH, including neuroinflammation that can activate neural systems associated with migraine. TBI can also compromise the intrinsic pain modulation system and this would increase the level of perceived pain associated with PTH. Depression and anxiety disorders, especially post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), are associated with TBI and these psychological conditions can directly intensify PTH. Additionally, depression and PTSD alter sleep and this will increase headache severity and foster the genesis of PTH. This article also reviews the anatomic loci of injury associated with TBI and notes the overlap between areas of injury associated with TBI and PTSD.

Keywords: Traumatic brain injury; neuroinflammation; post traumatic headaches; post traumatic stress disorder.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests. No competing interests were disclosed. No competing interests were disclosed. No competing interests were disclosed. No competing interests were disclosed.

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