Link Between Childhood Trauma and Chronic Pain in Adulthood Gains Attention in Latest Research

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“Adverse childhood experiences are associated with an increased risk of reporting chronic pain in adulthood: a systematic review and meta-analysis” – European Journal of Psychotraumatology.

Physical, sexual, or emotional abuse or neglect, either alone or combined with other types of childhood trauma, increases the risk of chronic pain and related disability in adulthood, according to new research.

These new findings underscore the urgency of addressing adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), potentially traumatic events that occur before the age of 18, and taking steps to mitigate their long-term impact on people’s health.

The study reviews research carried out over 75 years, in which 826,452 adults participated. Published in the peer-reviewed journal. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, reveals that people who have been exposed to various forms of traumatic events in childhood are at increased risk of experiencing chronic pain and pain-related disability in adulthood, particularly those subjected to physical abuse. The cumulative impact of exposure to multiple ACEs further exacerbates this risk.

“These results are extremely concerning, especially because more than one billion children (half of the world’s child population) are exposed to ACEs each year, putting them at greater risk for chronic pain and disability later in life,” he says. the lead author, Dr. André Bussières. from the School of Physical and Occupational Therapy at McGill University, in Canada. “There is an urgent need to develop targeted interventions and support systems to break the cycle of adversity and improve long-term health outcomes for those who have been exposed to childhood trauma.”

ACEs can affect a child or adolescent directly through physical, sexual, or emotional abuse or neglect, or indirectly through exposure to environmental factors such as domestic violence, living with substance abuse, or the loss of parents. Chronic pain, which affects between one third and one half of the population of the United Kingdom alone, is one of the main causes of disability worldwide. Long-term painful conditions, such as low back pain, arthritis, headaches, and migraines, can affect a person’s daily functioning to the point that they are unable to work, eat properly, or participate in physical activities.

Previous research has indicated a positive relationship between ACE exposure and chronic pain in adulthood. However, there are still gaps in knowledge, particularly around what types of ACEs are associated with specific pain-related conditions or whether a dose-response relationship exists.

To help address these gaps, the authors conducted a systematic review that included 85 studies. Of these, the results of 57 studies could be grouped in meta-analysis. They found that:

• People exposed to a direct ACE, whether physical, sexual, or emotional abuse or neglect, were 45% more likely to report chronic pain in adulthood compared to those who were not exposed.
• Childhood physical abuse was associated with a higher likelihood of reporting both chronic pain and pain-related disability.
• The odds of reporting chronic pain or pain-related disability in adulthood increased with exposure to any direct ACE, either alone or in combination with indirect ACEs.
• The risk of reporting chronic pain in adulthood increased significantly from exposure to one ACE to four or more ACEs.

“These results underline the urgency of addressing EACE, especially in light of their prevalence and health impacts,” said lead author Professor Jan Hartvigsen from the University of Southern Denmark.

“A more nuanced understanding of the precise relationship between ACEs and chronic pain will allow health professionals and policymakers to design specific strategies to help lessen the long-term impact of early life adversity on health.” of adults”.

The authors propose that future research should delve into the biological mechanisms through which ACEs affect health across the lifespan, with the goal of deepening understanding and developing ways to mitigate their impact.

Attribution/Source(s):

This peer-reviewed article related to our Disabled Sexuality section was selected for publication by Disabled World editors because of its likely interest to readers in our disability community. Although content may have been edited for style, clarity, or length, the article “The link between childhood trauma and chronic pain in adulthood gains attention in the latest research” It was originally written by the School of Physical and Occupational Therapy at McGill University and published by Disabled-World.com on 12/19/2023. If you require further information or clarification, you may contact the School of Physical and Occupational Therapy at McGill University at mcgill.ca. Disabled World makes no warranties or representations in connection therewith.

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