The link between migraine and depression is pretty well established, but some research findings are still disturbing. Such is the case for a large-scale study published in the journal Depression Treatment and Researcher in November 2013. The study, which included 67,000 Canadians, more than 6,000 of whom have migraine, found that depression and suicidal ideation were much higher among migraineurs than non-migraineurs.
A glance at the findings:
- 8.4% of men with migraine were depressed at the time of the study, while only 3.4% of those without migraine were.
- 12.4% of women with migraine were depressed, while 5.7% without migraine were.
- Both men and women with migraine were more likely to have ever considered suicide seriously than those without migraine.
- 15.6% of men with migraine had considered suicide serious versus 7.9% of men without migraine.
- 17.6% of women with migraine had considered suicide serious versus 9.1% of women without migraine.
- Migraineurs, male and female, younger than 30 had a six times higher risk of depression and four times higher odds of suicidal ideation than those 65 and older.
- Suicidal ideation among those with migraine was also higher in those who were unmarried, had lower household income and/or greater physical limitations.
Reference: Fuller-Thomson, E., Schrumm, M., & Brennenstuhl, S. (2013). Migraine and despair: factors associated with depression and suicidal ideation among Canadian migraineurs in a population-based study. Depression research and treatment, 2013. (The full text of the article is available for free.)