Migrane Sufferers at Higher Risk of Depression, Suicide Ideation

Researchers from Canada have found that migraine sufferers/ migraineurs are twice more likely to be diagnosed with depression than other people, a new study shows.

Migraines are recurring attacks of moderate to severe pain that causes a throbbing or pulsating effect, usually on one side of the head. Previous research has shown that migraine could lead to brain damage. About 12 percent of the U.S. population suffers from migraines and women are three times more likely than men to suffer from the condition.

The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Toronto, showed that both suicidal tendencies and depression was higher in people suffering from these debilitating headaches.

Related researches have shown that people who have migraine plus depression have small brain sizes.

This particular study was based on data from 67,000 Canadians participating in the 2005 Canadian Community Health Survey. In the study group, about 6000 people were diagnosed with migraines. Researchers found that the condition had higher prevalence in women than in men.

The results also highlighted that young, unmarried migraineurs were four times more likely than other people to have serious suicidal thoughts.  Note that here, young refers to people less than 30 years of age.

"We are not sure why younger migraineurs have such a high likelihood of depression and suicidal ideation," said Meghan Schrumm, former graduate student at the University and lead author of the study."It may be that younger people with migraines have not yet managed to find adequate treatment or develop coping mechanisms to minimize pain and the impact of this chronic illness on the rest of their lives.

"The much lower prevalence of depression and suicidal ideation among older migraineurs suggests a promising area for future research," Schrumm said in a news release.