Fibromyalgia and migraine increases likelihood of depression

People with both fibromyalgia and migraine report more depressive symptoms, higher headache intensity, and are more likely to have severe headache related disability compared to people without fibromyalgia, says research in the Journal of Headache Pain.

Studies have shown that fibromyalgia and migraine often occur together. Now a team has looked at if people with both conditions are more likely to be affected by symptoms of depression too.

They looked at data from 157 people with fibromyalgia and migraine and compared them to 471 people with migraines but no fibromyalgia.

“Patients with comorbid fibromyalgia and migraine report more depressive symptoms, higher headache intensity, and are more likely to have severe headache related disability as compared to controls without fibromyalgia,” the research group highlights. “Clinicians who care for patients with migraine may consider screening for comorbid fibromyalgia particularly in patients with moderate to severe depressive symptoms, high headache intensity and/or high headache related disability.”

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