title: Headache complaints and the risk of suicidal thoughts or behaviors.
abstract: The association between severe headaches and suicidal thoughts or behaviors is generally attributed to underlying depression, but it is plausible that severe headaches can lead to suicidal thoughts/behaviors, independent of the effects of psychiatric conditions. This association has been observed in only 1 previous study. Our multivariate analysis examined the longitudinal association between severe headaches and development of suicidal thoughts/behaviors over a period of 1 to 2 years among 6832 community-dwelling adults interviewed during the Epidemiologic Catchment Area Study. Severe headaches were significantly associated with developing suicidal thoughts/behaviors after adjusting for psychiatric diagnoses and demographics [adjusted odds ratio (ORa) = 1.48; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.04, 2.11], or additionally adjusting for interaction between anxiety and depression (ORa = 1.52; 95% CI = 1.07, 2.16). These results suggest that individuals with severe headaches should be screened for suicidal thoughts/behaviors, irrespective of the presence of a psychiatric condition.
authors.affiliation: Burlingame Center for Psychiatric Research and Education, The Institute of Living, Hartford, Connecticu 06106, USA. swoolle@harthosp.org
authors.forename: Stephen B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Woolley
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fredman
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Goethe
authors.forename: Alisa K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Lincoln
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Heeren
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D033182:Intention; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult