COMORBIDITY OF MIGRAINE AND MAJOR AFFECTIVE-DISORDERS

Two epidemiologic studies of young adults from the Detroit metropolita n area and from Zurich, Switzerland, focused on the relationship betwe en migraine and affective disorders, such as major depression, dysthym ia, bipolar disorder, and cyclothymia. Through application of current definitions of migraine and psychiatric disorders in structured diagno stic interviews, data have been obtained that strongly support clinica l observations on migraine-major depression comorbidity. The findings to support a link between migraine and bipolar disorder are less consi stent. Physicians caring for patients with migraine or affective disor ders should maintain diagnostic vigilance for comorbid disease and, wh en present, should consider comorbidity in planning treatment interven tions.