Dr. Timothy Collins (dukehealth.org)
A look at data relating to women’s health collected over 14 years has revealed that women who have ever suffered from migraines are 1.3 times more likely to develop depression than women with no history of migraine.
The researchers looked at over 36,000 women without depression enrolled in Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School’s ongoing Women’s Health Study. Of the study participants, more than 6,500 reported having experienced a migraine before.
After 14 years, nearly 4,000 of the participants reported suffering from depression, and those women who initially reported a history of migraine were more likely to be among those now suffering from depression.
Dr. Timothy Collins, a headache specialist who was not involved with the study, finds the results compelling.
“Before this study, I didn’t ask my patients if they had depression, but now I will.”
Dr. Collins’ Vitals profile lists him as a neurologist at Duke University Medical Center with 20 years of experience. Visit Vitals to find a neurologist near you.
(Source: Health on Today)
I recently temporarily moved in with my mentally retarded brother and sister-in-law. My brother is what is called high functioning; however, his wife is 12-years-old mentally and now displaying odd behaviors and out-of-control temper tantrums. I suspect it’s depression that’s been untreated for some time now. Neither one know what they’re doing. They’ve lost homes, pets and now getting ready for their utilities to be cut off. I’m here to help, but I’ve got limited knowlege at this point of the mentally retarded and now depression. They have both agreed not to involve a case manager; which worries me a lot. My brother believes he’s normal. My question and/or concern is if it is depression, what would be her first step to getting the help she needs, if I can get her to go to the doctor?