Childhood Trauma Increases Risk Of Chronic Pain In Adulthood By 45%

Adults with chronic pain lasting three or more months were 45% more likely to have experienced adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). The odds of chronic pain increased with the number of ACEs, rising from 29% among those who experienced one ACE to 95% among those who experienced four or more ACEs.

ACEs can be direct, such as childhood sexual, physical, emotional abuse, or neglect, or indirect, such as witnessing domestic violence or household mental illness. Individuals reporting childhood physical abuse (a direct ACE) were 50% more likely to report both chronic pain and pain-related disability limiting performance of daily activities . . .