The impact of depression and ghrelin on body weight in migraineurs.
BACKGROUND
Comorbidity of migraine with anxiety and depression may play a role in the link between migraine and obesity. We examined the moderating and mediating roles of ghrelin in the relationship between depression (and anxiety) and body weight in newly diagnosed migraineurs.


METHODS
Participants were 63 newly diagnosed migraine patients (using the ICHD-II criteria) and 42 healthy volunteers. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated by measuring height and weight. Ghrelin was assessed at fasting. Depression was assessed with the Hamilton Depression scale, and anxiety with the Hamilton Anxiety scale.


RESULTS
The data did not support the mediating role of ghrelin in the relationship between depression (or anxiety) and BMI for either the migraine or the control group. The interaction between ghrelin and depression as well as anxiety was significant for the migraine group, but not for the control group. Depressed (or anxious) migraineurs had a positive association between ghrelin and BMI, whereas for the non-depressed (or non-anxious) migraineurs this association was negative.


CONCLUSIONS
Depression and anxiety moderated the effect of ghrelin on BMI for migraineurs. Management of anxiety and depression might be regarded as part of migraine treatment.
Bulent
B
Turan
Zeynep Osar
ZO
Siva
Neurology Department, Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey. deryaulu@yahoo.com.
Derya
D
Uluduz
Dildar
D
Konukoglu
Feyza
F
Erenler
Sabahattin
S
Saip
Baki
B
Goksan
Aksel
A
Siva
D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers; D054439:Ghrelin