Many Headache Sufferers Also Suffer From Symptoms Of Depression

A recent survey conducted by the National Headache Foundation (NHF) found that 90% of headache sufferers also suffer from symptoms of depression. Respondents noted that the most common symptoms included energy loss (67%), difficulty sleeping or oversleeping (66%), difficulty thinking or concentrating (60%), sad mood (56%) and loss of interest or pleasure in activities that were once enjoyed (56%).

Additional highlights of the online survey include:

85% of respondents felt they would be happier if they weren ,, t suffering from headaches

67% of respondents reported they felt more depressed when they were suffering from a headache

47% of respondents reported they first suffered from headache before suffering from depression

"The correlation between people with depression and people with migraine has been considerably studied and documented. Migraine has been linked with an increased risk for the first onset of major depression and major depression has been associated with an increased risk for the development of migraine according to Suzanne Simons, Executive Director of the NHF. "Furthermore, the World Health Organization reported in 2004 that depression is three times more common in people with migraine or severe headaches than in healthy individuals.

"Individuals who suffer from headache or the symptoms of depression should talk to their healthcare provider states Dr. Seymour Diamond, Executive Chairman of the NHF. "Headache is a treatable condition as is depression and the sooner a patient is properly diagnosed, the sooner effective treatment can be started.
An article in the Fall 2006 issue of NHF Headlines supports this premise. Written by Gary E. Ruoff, MD, of the Westside Family Medical Center, Kalamazoo, MI, the story reported that early intervention for depression is critical because "the identification and treatment of depression during its earliest stages may slow the progression of both migraine and depression into higher levels of severity, and may make both easier to treat.