title: Cross-prevalence of migraine and bipolar disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In two related studies, we explored the prevalence of migraine and its associated clinical characteristics in patients with bipolar disorder (BD) as well as psychiatric morbidity in patients treated for migraine.
  
  
  METHODS
  The first study included 323 subjects with BD type I (BD I) or BD type II (BD II), diagnosed using the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia, Lifetime version (SADS-L) format, or the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID). Migraine history was assessed by means of a structured questionnaire. In a second sample of 102 migraine patients, we investigated current and lifetime psychiatric morbidity using the SADS-L. Statistical analyses were conducted using nonparametric analysis and log-linear models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 24.5% of BD patients had comorbid migraine; those with BD II had a higher prevalence (34.8%) compared to BD I (19.1%) (p < 0.005). BD patients with comorbid migraine had significantly higher rates of suicidal behaviour, social phobia, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (all p < 0.05). In the sample of migraine patients, 34.3% had a current psychiatric diagnosis, and 73.5% had a lifetime psychiatric diagnosis. The prevalence of BD I was 4.9%, and 7.8% for BD II.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Migraine is prevalent within the BD population, particularly among BD II subjects. It is associated with an increased risk of suicidal behaviour and comorbid anxiety disorders. Conversely, migraine sufferers have high rates of current and lifetime psychopathology. A greater understanding of this comorbidity may contribute to our knowledge of the underlying mechanisms of BD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
authors.forename: Abigail
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ortiz
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cervantes
authors.forename: Gregorio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zlotnik
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: van de Velde
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Slaney
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Garnham
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Turecki
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: O'Donovan
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alda
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002170:Canada; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires