Migraine Headache and the Risk of Depression

Hussain A Al Ghadeer; Sadiq A Al Salman; Zahr M Alshakhs; Jehad H Alghanim; Abdulelah A Alneamah; Hussain S Almazyadi; Hashem H Alalawi; Murtada I AlHassan; Bashayr S Alsuwailem; Amjad A Albonasser; Hussain I Aljohar; Yazeed M Alhammadi; Fatimah M Almoaibed; Yaqot A Al Ali; Abdullah I Alali

doi:10.7759/cureus.31081

Migraine Headache and the Risk of Depression

Cureus. 2022 Nov 4;14(11):e31081. doi: 10.7759/cureus.31081. eCollection 2022 Nov.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Paediatrics, Maternity and Children Hospital, AlAhsa, SAU.
² Neurology, King Fahad General Hospital, AlAhsa, SAU.
³ Neurology, King Faisal University, AlAhsa, SAU.
⁴ Emergency Medicine, Al Ayoun Hospital, AlAhsa, SAU.
⁵ Internal Medicine, Prince Saud Bin Jalawi Hospital, AlAhsa, SAU.
⁶ Rehabilitation Medicine, Al Sheikh Hasan Al-Afaliq Rehabilitation Hospital, AlAhsa, SAU.
⁷ Neurology, Albaha University, Albaha, SAU.
⁸ Internal Medicine, Maternity and Children Hospital, AlAhsa, SAU.

Abstract

Background: Migraine is a primary headache and a complicated neurological disorder with sensory and autonomic abnormalities. Many variables, including genetic and psychological ones, contribute to migraine onset and development. Anxiety and depression are typical psychiatric comorbidities among migraineurs. This kind of comorbidity increased migraine chronicity, treatment effectiveness, and the likelihood of additional comorbidities. The purpose of this research was to determine the prevalence of depression among Saudi migraine sufferers in AlAhsa.

Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional research of 101 migraine patients at King Fahd Hospital-Hofuf, AlAhsa, Saudi Arabia from May to December 2021. Depression was assessed by Patient Health Questionnaire which is a reliable tool (PHQ-9). The PHQ-9 measures the presence and severity of depression. Consider sociodemographic, clinical, and individual variations that impact migraine development and prognosis. Results: The inclusion criteria were satisfied by 94 migraine patients in total, with a mean age of 36.9 ± 9 years and they are predominantly females 75.5%. The majority of the participants (76.6%) were on medication to relieve migraine attacks and only 13.9% reported that >75% of attacks were relieved by medication. Almost all of the patients (96.8%) used to drink coffee and tea. The prevalence of depression and migraine was revealed to be 42.6% mild and 8.5% severe among the participants. Four statistically significant correlations (p < 0.05) were young age, being female, low level of education at higher risk to have depression compared to another group of migraineurs.

Conclusion: A neurological disorder that commonly causes disability is migraine. Numerous studies have shown that mood disorders and migraines are often co-occurring, and these individuals are more likely to have a migraine-related disability. This research has shown that it is beneficial to prevent psychiatric comorbidity by using PHQ-9 as a regular screening tool for migraine patients.

Keywords: alahsa; depression; headache; migraine; psychological impact; saudi arabia.