Headaches, migraine and depression

A new study is expanding our understanding of the links between headaches, migraine and depression.  The study was published in the January 9th edition of Neurology, on research led by Gretchen Tietjen, a neurologist at the Ohio’s University of Toledo Health Science Campus.  In simple terms, the study found that women with chronic headache or migraine are more likely to be depressed.  But look at some of these numbers:

• Women with chronic headaches are 4x more likely to have symptoms of major depression than women with episodic (ie once-in-a-while) headaches.
• Women with chronic headache were 3x more likely to report other headache-related symptoms (could it be that they just notice the connection more?)
• Women with severely disabling migraine and related symptoms were 32x more at risk for major depression

I’m sorry, could you repeat that last one?  32x?!  Now of course the debate is always – do the symptoms contribute to the depression, is the depression contributing to the symptoms, or is there a third cause that’s contributing to both (perhaps a combination of the three).  But whatever approach you take, let’s just face facts – there’s a connection, especially when it comes to migraine (when you compare this study with others).

There comes a time to stop placing blame, ignoring the problem or putting down people who suffer from depression.  According to this article on the depression study [link no longer available], the World Heath Organization predicts that by 2020 depression will be the world’s biggest killer after heart disease!  Whether it means getting the help of friends or family, talking to your doctor, or just evaluating your life and assumptions about the world, action need to be taken, whether you know someone who has depression or you have it yourself.  It’s not just an “imaginary” problem, and it can be disabling and deadly.