Case-control study, 2013
Are migraines linked to menstrual mood disorders and childhood sexual abuse?
Migraine with aura is much more common in women with menstrual mood disorders (11 out of 88 versus none out of 86 in controls), and women with both a mood disorder and childhood sexual abuse history have about 12 times higher risk. The study shows association but not cause.
What they did
Cross-sectional study of 174 women (average age 33.9 years). Researchers identified current menstrual mood disorders using daily symptom tracking, assessed childhood sexual abuse history through structured interviews, and diagnosed migraine using standard criteria.
What they found
96 women met criteria for menstrually related mood disorder (21 with childhood sexual abuse history) and 78 were controls (16 with abuse history). Migraine with aura was significantly more prevalent in women with menstrual mood disorders (11/88 versus 0/86, p=0.001). Among women with menstrual mood disorders, childhood sexual abuse was associated with higher migraine with aura rates (6/21 versus 5/67, p=0.019). The combination of mood disorder and abuse history was associated with odds ratio 12.08 for migraine with aura (p<0.001).
What it means for you
Women with menstrual mood disorders have substantially higher risk of migraines with aura, especially those with a history of childhood sexual abuse. This is one cross-sectional study showing association but not whether one condition causes the other.
174
Total women studied
11/88
Women with mood disorder who had migraine with aura
12.08
Increased risk for migraine with aura (odds ratio)
About the study
- Original title
- The association of migraine with menstrually related mood disorders and childhood sexual abuse
- Authors
- Bunevicius A, Rubinow DR, Calhoun A et al.
- Journal
- Journal of women's health (2002)
- Year
- 2013
- Study design
- Case-control study
- Participants
- 174
- What was tested
- None
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1089/jwh.2013.4279
Topics
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