Allodynia is associated with a higher prevalence of depression in migraine patients.
BACKGROUND
There is a strong association between migraine and depression. The aim of this study is to identify migraine-specific factors involved in this association.


METHODS
We conducted a cross-sectional study in a large, well-defined cohort of migraine patients (n=2533). We assessed lifetime depression using validated questionnaires, and diagnosed migraine based on the International Classification of Headache Disorders III-beta criteria. Multivariate regression analyses were conducted.


RESULTS
Of the 2533 migraineurs that were eligible, 1137 (45%) suffered from lifetime depression. The following independent factors were associated with an increased depression prevalence: i) migraine-specific risk factors: high migraine attack frequency and the presence of allodynia, ii) general factors: being a bad sleeper, female gender, high BMI, being single, smoking, and a low alcohol consumption.


CONCLUSIONS
This study identified allodynia, in addition to high migraine attack frequency, as a new migraine-specific factor associated with depression.
Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Centre, the Netherlands Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Centre, the Netherlands.
M A
MA
Louter
Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Centre, the Netherlands University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Interdisciplinary Center Psychopathology and Emotion Regulation, the Netherlands.
K J
KJ
Wardenaar
GGZ Ingeest/VU Medical Centre, the Netherlands.
G
G
Veen
Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Centre, the Netherlands.
W P J
WP
van Oosterhout
Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Centre, the Netherlands.
F G
FG
Zitman
Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Centre, the Netherlands.
M D
MD
Ferrari
Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Centre, the Netherlands g.m.terwindt@lumc.nl.
G M
GM
Terwindt
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006930:Hyperalgesia / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
LUMINA; Migraine; allodynia; comorbidity; depression