Migraine, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts

Neurology. 1992 Feb;42(2):392-5. doi: 10.1212/wnl.42.2.392.

Abstract

We examined the risk of suicide attempts and suicidal ideation separately in persons with (1) migraine with aura alone, (2) migraine with aura and coexisting major depression, (3) migraine without aura alone, and (4) migraine without aura and coexisting major depression. Persons with migraine with aura alone and migraine with aura and coexisting major depression had significantly higher rates of suicide attempts and suicidal ideation compared with persons with neither migraine nor major depression. The rates of suicide attempts and suicidal ideation in persons with migraine with aura and major depression were higher than the combined rates in persons with major depression alone and migraine with aura alone. In contrast, migraine without aura was not associated with an increased risk for suicide attempts and suicidal ideation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Depressive Disorder / complications
  • Depressive Disorder / epidemiology
  • Depressive Disorder / psychology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Migraine Disorders / complications
  • Migraine Disorders / epidemiology
  • Migraine Disorders / psychology*
  • Prevalence
  • Risk Factors
  • Suicide, Attempted / psychology*
  • Suicide, Attempted / statistics & numerical data