Childhood Trauma in People living with Chronic pain

Key things to know What the evidence shows
How common is it? Not established childhood-trauma prevalence among all chronic-pain patients
Is it more common among people living with chronic pain? Strong, dose-dependent association with chronic pain
Are people living with chronic pain at higher risk? #N/A
How much higher is the risk? Any ACE → chronic pain aOR 1.53; ≥4 ACEs aOR 1.95
How often can it be missed? #N/A
Does it show up differently among people living with chronic pain? Very Strong Yes
How might it look different? Pain and trauma can reinforce hypervigilance, threat sensitivity, sleep problems and avoidance; pain is real regardless of trauma history
What commonly occurs alongside it? #N/A
What can it be confused with? Primary pain disorder; PTSD/CPTSD; somatic symptom disorder
Common screening tool ACE Questionnaire — Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire
Separate screening tool for people living with chronic pain None
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