Migraine Sufferers More Prone to Depression, Research Finds
It is a known fact that migraine is a debilitating condition that often affects the sufferer’s quality of life. Now, a new study suggests it could also make people vulnerable to depression and suicidal thoughts.
Published in the journal Depression Research and Treatment, the new study revealed that younger people with migraine are 30 times more likely to develop depression compared to migraine sufferers aged 65 and over.
The study involved more than 67,000 people, of which 6,000 had been diagnosed of having migraine. Consistent with prior research, the rate of migraines was much higher in women than in men, with one in every 7 women, compared to one in every 16 men, reporting they had migraines.
Researchers also found that unmarried individuals, those with low household income, and migraine sufferers who had difficulties with daily activities were also more likely to develop depression.
They also found that in both men and women, those with migraines were much more likely to have ever ‘seriously’ considered suicide than those without migraines.
Researchers said they are not sure why younger migraine sufferers have such high likelihood of depression and suicidal thoughts. One possible reason is that these people have not yet managed to find adequate treatment or develop coping mechanisms to alleviate the pain and the impact of migraine on their life. “The much lower prevalence of depression and suicidal ideation among older migraineurs suggests a promising area for future research." says Meghan Schrumm, co-author of the study and a former graduate student at the University of Toronto.
According to lead author Professor Esme Fuller-Thomson, the study draws further attention to the need for routine screening and targeted interventions for depression and suicidal tendencies, particularly among high-risk individuals.
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