Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsConnectionManaging ConditionsRisksPreventionBetween Episodes
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Table of Contents
Connection
Managing Conditions
Risks
Prevention
Between Episodes
Migrainesand depression often co-occur. Researchers believe the relationship is bidirectional, meaning that people with depression are likely to experience migraines, and those with migraines are at an increased risk for depression.
Treating one condition can help manage the other. Healthcare providers can tailor an integrated treatment approach that addresses both conditions.
This article explains the links between migraine and depression and discusses strategies for managing these conditions.
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Migraine vs. HeadacheMigraine is a neurological disorder that causes attacks of severe headaches along with other symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and light or sound sensitivity.Headacheencompasses a broader set of direct and indirect causes of head pain due to infection, injury, or disorders like tension or cluster headache.
Migraine vs. Headache
Migraine is a neurological disorder that causes attacks of severe headaches along with other symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and light or sound sensitivity.Headacheencompasses a broader set of direct and indirect causes of head pain due to infection, injury, or disorders like tension or cluster headache.
Migraine is a neurological disorder that causes attacks of severe headaches along with other symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and light or sound sensitivity.
Headacheencompasses a broader set of direct and indirect causes of head pain due to infection, injury, or disorders like tension or cluster headache.
Connection Between Migraines and Depression
Nearly half of people who experience migraines also have depression or have up to 4 times the risk of developing it. In turn, depression canworsen migraines, raising the risk of acute (episodic) cases becoming chronic.It can also cause medication overuse or overuse and make adherence to migraine therapy difficult.
Researchers are still working to understand the exact links between depression and migraine. However, they have found several ways the two conditions are connected, such as:
Hormones and MigraineThe female sex hormones estrogen and progesterone play a significant role in the development of both migraine and depression. Changes in these levels can trigger attacks of both and affect mood. Headaches and depression can be side effects ofhormonal birth controlor hormone replacement therapy.
Hormones and Migraine
The female sex hormones estrogen and progesterone play a significant role in the development of both migraine and depression. Changes in these levels can trigger attacks of both and affect mood. Headaches and depression can be side effects ofhormonal birth controlor hormone replacement therapy.
How to Manage Depression With Migraines
Depression with migraines can complicate treatment. There is no singular treatment, so healthcare providers tailor therapies to the individual. Management methods may include a combination of medications, procedures, and therapy.
Researchers are also exploring the use of monoclonal antibodies—drugs derived from cloned white blood cells—to treat chronic migraine and depression.
Although more research is needed, this therapy has shown promise for those with migraine and depression. In a year-long study of those with chronic migraine and depression, monthly or quarterly Ajovy (framenazumab) injections reduced depression scores and headache days.
Risks of Untreated, Ongoing Symptoms
Depression can worsen migraines and vice versa; over time, they can significantly impact your health. Potential risks of untreated depression and migraine include:
Seeking Help for Suicidal ThoughtsIf you are having suicidal thoughts, contact the988 Suicide & Crisis Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one is in immediate danger, call 911. For more mental health resources, seeVerywell’s National Helpline Database.
Seeking Help for Suicidal Thoughts
If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact the988 Suicide & Crisis Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one is in immediate danger, call 911. For more mental health resources, seeVerywell’s National Helpline Database.
Benefits of Integrated Treatment
Since depression and migraine are closely linked, healthcare providers may adopt integrated approaches to treatments, relying on a team of specialists (typically neurologists and psychiatrists) to target both conditions. The goals of treatment are to prevent migraine attacks, manage depression, and adopt strategies to promote well-being.
Treating depression without managing migraine resolves only part of the problem and can lead to residual symptoms. Integrated treatments incorporating medications, therapies, and lifestyle changes address these shortfalls.
Managing depression can also be crucial for preventing episodic migraine from becoming chronic.
How to Stay Ahead of Migraine Flares
Alongside medications and other treatments, certain habits and lifestyle changes help to prevent migraines from flaring up. These include:
In Between Depressive Episodes
People with depression often go through periods of more intense symptoms or depressive episodes. Several strategies may help you reduce or prevent depression symptoms, including:
Summary
Primary treatments for co-occurring migraine and depression involve medications and psychotherapy. Healthcare providers may opt for integrated treatment approaches, which take on both conditions simultaneously. In addition, specific lifestyle changes, such as ensuring quality sleep and physical activity, prevent flare-ups of both conditions.
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Al Ghadeer HA, Al Salman SA, Alshakhs ZM, et al.Migraine headache and the risk of depression.Cureus. 2022;14(11):e31081. doi:10.7759/cureus.31081National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Migraine.Asif N, Patel A, Vedantam D, Poman DS, Motwani L.Migraine with comorbid depression: Pathogenesis, clinical implications, and treatment.Cureus. 2022;14(6):e25998. doi:10.7759/cureus.25998Jahangir S, Adjepong D, Al-Shami HA, Malik BH.Is there an association between migraine and major depressive disorder? A narrative review.Cureus. 2020;12(6):e8551. doi:10.7759/cureus.8551Zhang Q, Shao A, Jiang Z, Tsai H, Liu W.The exploration of mechanisms of comorbidity between migraine and depression.J Cellular Molecular Medi. 2019;23(7):4505-4513. doi:/10.1111/jcmm.14390MedlinePlus.Estrogen and progestin (oral contraceptives).National Institute of Mental Health.Depression.Hung CI, Liu CY, Yang CH, Wang SJ.Migraine and greater pain symptoms at 10-year follow-up among patients with major depressive disorder.J Headache Pain. 2018;19(1):56. doi:10.1186/s10194-018-0884-9MedlinePlus.Migraine.World Health Organization.Depressive disorder (depression).
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Al Ghadeer HA, Al Salman SA, Alshakhs ZM, et al.Migraine headache and the risk of depression.Cureus. 2022;14(11):e31081. doi:10.7759/cureus.31081National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Migraine.Asif N, Patel A, Vedantam D, Poman DS, Motwani L.Migraine with comorbid depression: Pathogenesis, clinical implications, and treatment.Cureus. 2022;14(6):e25998. doi:10.7759/cureus.25998Jahangir S, Adjepong D, Al-Shami HA, Malik BH.Is there an association between migraine and major depressive disorder? A narrative review.Cureus. 2020;12(6):e8551. doi:10.7759/cureus.8551Zhang Q, Shao A, Jiang Z, Tsai H, Liu W.The exploration of mechanisms of comorbidity between migraine and depression.J Cellular Molecular Medi. 2019;23(7):4505-4513. doi:/10.1111/jcmm.14390MedlinePlus.Estrogen and progestin (oral contraceptives).National Institute of Mental Health.Depression.Hung CI, Liu CY, Yang CH, Wang SJ.Migraine and greater pain symptoms at 10-year follow-up among patients with major depressive disorder.J Headache Pain. 2018;19(1):56. doi:10.1186/s10194-018-0884-9MedlinePlus.Migraine.World Health Organization.Depressive disorder (depression).
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Al Ghadeer HA, Al Salman SA, Alshakhs ZM, et al.Migraine headache and the risk of depression.Cureus. 2022;14(11):e31081. doi:10.7759/cureus.31081National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Migraine.Asif N, Patel A, Vedantam D, Poman DS, Motwani L.Migraine with comorbid depression: Pathogenesis, clinical implications, and treatment.Cureus. 2022;14(6):e25998. doi:10.7759/cureus.25998Jahangir S, Adjepong D, Al-Shami HA, Malik BH.Is there an association between migraine and major depressive disorder? A narrative review.Cureus. 2020;12(6):e8551. doi:10.7759/cureus.8551Zhang Q, Shao A, Jiang Z, Tsai H, Liu W.The exploration of mechanisms of comorbidity between migraine and depression.J Cellular Molecular Medi. 2019;23(7):4505-4513. doi:/10.1111/jcmm.14390MedlinePlus.Estrogen and progestin (oral contraceptives).National Institute of Mental Health.Depression.Hung CI, Liu CY, Yang CH, Wang SJ.Migraine and greater pain symptoms at 10-year follow-up among patients with major depressive disorder.J Headache Pain. 2018;19(1):56. doi:10.1186/s10194-018-0884-9MedlinePlus.Migraine.World Health Organization.Depressive disorder (depression).
Al Ghadeer HA, Al Salman SA, Alshakhs ZM, et al.Migraine headache and the risk of depression.Cureus. 2022;14(11):e31081. doi:10.7759/cureus.31081
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Migraine.
Asif N, Patel A, Vedantam D, Poman DS, Motwani L.Migraine with comorbid depression: Pathogenesis, clinical implications, and treatment.Cureus. 2022;14(6):e25998. doi:10.7759/cureus.25998
Jahangir S, Adjepong D, Al-Shami HA, Malik BH.Is there an association between migraine and major depressive disorder? A narrative review.Cureus. 2020;12(6):e8551. doi:10.7759/cureus.8551
Zhang Q, Shao A, Jiang Z, Tsai H, Liu W.The exploration of mechanisms of comorbidity between migraine and depression.J Cellular Molecular Medi. 2019;23(7):4505-4513. doi:/10.1111/jcmm.14390
MedlinePlus.Estrogen and progestin (oral contraceptives).
National Institute of Mental Health.Depression.
Hung CI, Liu CY, Yang CH, Wang SJ.Migraine and greater pain symptoms at 10-year follow-up among patients with major depressive disorder.J Headache Pain. 2018;19(1):56. doi:10.1186/s10194-018-0884-9
MedlinePlus.Migraine.
World Health Organization.Depressive disorder (depression).
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