The prevalence of depression among migraine sufferers is about twice as high as those that do not suffer from the disease, according to a new study published by researchers from the  University of Toronto.

It was reported that young migraine sufferers were particularly at risk for depression. Women younger than 30 that suffer from migraines had six times the odds of depression compared to sufferers 65 years of age and older, said the lead author, Professor Esme Fuller-Thomson, the Sandra Rotman Endowed Chair at the University of Toronto’s Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work. People that aren’t married and migraine sufferers who have difficulties with daily activities also showed higher instances of depression.

Data for the study came from the 2005 Canadian Community Health Survey, which included 67,000 Canadians. The data was used to examine gender specific associations between migraines and depression. More than 6,000 participants reported that they had been diagnosed by a health care professional with migraines. Migraine rates were much higher in women than men, with one in every seven women, compared to one in every 16 men, reporting that they had migraines. This information is consistent with prior research.

The study also looked at the relationship between migraines and suicidal ideation. For both men and women, those suffering from migraines were much more likely to have seriously considered suicide compared to those not suffering from migraines. Migraine sufferers under age 30 had four times the odds of lifetime suicidal ideation in comparison to migraine sufferers 65 years of age and older. Other factors associated with suicidal ideation among the group with migraines included marital status, household income and activity limitations.

Co-author and former graduate student Meghan Schrumm commented, “We are not sure why younger migraineurs have such a high likelihood of depression and suicidal ideation. 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.”

Dr. Fuller-Thomson added that the study “draws further attention to the need for routine screening and targeted interventions for depression and suicidality, particularly among the most vulnerable migraineurs: Individuals who are young, unmarried and those with activity limitations.”

This study was published in the journal Depression Research and Treatment.