Adult patients with headaches, epilepsy, or other neurologic disorders appear to have increased odds of having had adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) compared to the general public, suggests a new study published online in Neurology Clinical Practice.

People with neurologic conditions having a high level of ACEs, including abuse or neglect, also seem to use more healthcare resources, have more comorbidities, and have an increased likelihood of suffering from anxiety and depression, in comparison to those with less ACEs. The study included 198 adults assessed at an outpatient neurology practice at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania from July 2019 through March 2020. A survey with the 10-item ACE questionnaire was completed by the participants. Following adjustment for age, gender, and race, it was noted that having a high ACE score had a significant association with increased odds of experiencing three or more hospitalizations (odds ratio [OR], 5.2) or any hospitalization (OR, 2.8), compared to having less than four ACEs… (Medscape)