加拿大最新研究發現：深陷頭痛之苦的人更容易有憂鬱和自殺的傾向
此項發現是由多倫多大學研究員從2005年加拿大社區健康調查67,000位名眾樣本資料中分析獲得，其中超過6,000名參與者曾被診斷出患有偏頭痛症狀，與先前研究相符合的是，相較男性之下(每16名男性中有1位)，頭痛症狀更好發於女性(每7名女性當中有1位)
分析指出偏頭痛之患者罹患憂鬱症的機率是平常人的2倍之多(男性：8.4%比3.4%；女性：12.4% 比5.7%)
多倫多大學研究員將此項新發現刊載於網路出刊的Depression Research and Treatment. Esme Fuller-Thomson教授、Sandra Rotman教授、Endowed Chair教授和其他研究員於文章中寫出“年輕”偏頭痛患者，是罹患憂鬱症的最大危險族群。Fuller-Thomson教授表示：30歲以下女性頭痛患者罹患憂鬱症的機率是65歲頭痛患者的6倍
在詳查頭痛與憂鬱症之關聯性的同時，研究員也分析了頭痛與自殺傾向的相關性。他們發現不論是男性女性，曾經“認真考慮過採取自殺行為”的頭痛患者是非頭痛者的2倍，男性為15.6%比7.9%；女性為17.6%比9.1%
作者之一Meghan Schrumm說明：我們不是很確切知道為什麼年輕頭痛患者與憂鬱症和自殺傾向有這麼高的關聯性，也須是因為年輕患者還未找到合適的治療方式與生理機制去減輕疼痛及其所帶來的影響。
Fuller-Thomson教授表示對於憂鬱症和自殺傾向，他們的新發現突顯出例行性的檢查和介入鎖定對象的重要性，尤其是最脆弱的頭痛患者們。
最近在Neurology期刊發表的另一研究也發現頭痛可能會改變腦部組織和增加腦部損傷的風險。本文由Catharine Paddock 博士撰寫
本文由松德身心科診所摘譯自：http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/267610.php
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Migraine sufferers more likely to have depression
Friday 18 October 2013 – 3am PST
A large new study from Canada finds that people who suffer from migraines are also more likely to have depression and think about suicide than counterparts who do not have them.
Researchers from the University of Toronto analyzed data from a representative sample of more than 67,000 people who took part in the 2005 Canadian Community Health Survey.
Over 6,000 of the participants reported having been diagnosed with migraine, and in line with previous studies, migraine was found to be much more common in women (1 in every 7) than men (1 in every 16).
The analysis shows that depression among people with migraine was about twice as common as in people without migraine (8.4% versus 3.4% for men and 12.4% versus 5.7% for women).
The researchers write about their findings in a paper published online this week in the journal Depression Research and Treatment.
Lead author Professor Esme Fuller-Thomson, Sandra Rotman, Endowed Chair, and colleagues write that younger migraine sufferers were the group at highest risk for depression.
Female migraine sufferers under 30 years of age were more than six times as likely to have depression as sufferers aged 65 and over, Prof. Fuller-Thomson says.
As well as examining links between migraine and depression, the researchers analyzed links between migraine and thoughts about suicide.
They found, for both men and women, those with migraines were twice as likely to have "ever seriously considered suicide or taking (their) own life" than those without migraines. For men, the figures were 15.6% versus 7.9%, and for women they were 17.6% versus 9.1%.
Co-author Meghan Schrumm says:
"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."
Prof. Fuller-Thomson says their findings underline the need for routine screening and targeted interventions for depression and suicidality, particularly for the the most vulnerable migraine sufferers.
Another study recently published in the journal Neurology found that migraines can alter brain structure permanently and increase the risk of brain lesions.
Written by Catharine Paddock PhD
Reference：http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/267610.php
