Migraine and attachment type in children and adolescents: what is the role of trauma exposure?

Migraine and attachment insecurity in children and adolescents are often associated. The attachment system can significantly affect the emotional experience and clinical presentation of migraine. The prevalence of migraine in children and adolescent is about 7.7–9.1% and there is a recognized association between migraine and psychiatric comorbidities especially with anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and eating and sleep disorders [1]. Children and adolescents with migraine have an increased risk of developing major depressive episodes and consequently suicide. Furthermore, recent studies reported a significant relationship between migraine and insecure style of attachment. Bowlby defined attachment as a behavioral and cognitive system that regulates an individual’s sense of internal security. According to the most recent studies, traumatic experiences occurring to children with insecure attachment could trigger the activation of the stress mechanism due to the disorganization of the