Prevalence of migraine in bipolar disorder.
BACKGROUND
This study was undertaken to estimate the prevalence of migraine in people suffering from bipolar affective disorder.


METHODS
a headache questionnaire incorporating the newly introduced International Headache Society (IHS) criteria was given to 117 patients on the Dunedin Bipolar Research Register.


RESULTS
a total of 81 (69%) completed the questionnaire, out of which 21 (25.9%) reported migraine headaches. 25% of bipolar men and 27% of bipolar women suffered from migraine.


CONCLUSIONS
these rates are higher than those reported in the general population with the rate for bipolar men being almost five-times higher than expected. An increased risk of suffering form migraine was particularly noted in bipolar patients with an early onset of the disorder. This may represent a more severe form of bipolar affective disorder.
Mahmood
T
T
Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin School of Medicine, New Zealand. tariq.mahmood@stonebow.otago.ac.nz
Romans
S
S
Silverstone
T
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires