History of Migraine risk factor for depression and anxiety in late pregnancy, finds study

Migraine is reported in 18% of American women, 6% of men, and 10% of children. Migraine is said to be identified as a risk factor for peripartum depression. Limited information is known about its contribution in pre partum period.

A new study by Dr Nike ZoeWelander and team has reported that migraine may be a risk factor for anxiety in mid- pregnancy and mixed symptoms of peripartum depression and anxiety in late pregnancy.

This study is published in the Journal of Affective Disorders.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the contribution of anxiety to this association or potential changes throughout the peripartum period.

The study was cohort study of sample of 4,831 women from the Biology, Affect, Stress, Imaging and Cognition cohort in Sweden. Participants were asked about history of migraine prior to pregnancy. The participants completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) at gestational weeks 17 and 32 and postpartum week 6. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were used to assess associations between migraine and symptoms of depression, anxiety or mixed depression and anxiety, while adjusting for potential confounders.

The results of the study were

• A crude estimate, confirmed migraine was associated with separate and mixed symptoms of depression and anxiety at most time points.

• After adjustments, migraine was associated with anxiety at week 17 (adjusted odds ratio: 1.69; 95% confidence interval: 1.11–2.54).

• Mixed depression and anxiety at week 32 was (adjusted odds ratio: 1.45; 95% confidence interval: 1.06–1.99).

None of the other associations remained statistically significant after adjustments.

ZoeWelander and team concluded that "The results demonstrate that migraine may be a risk factor for anxiety in mid- pregnancy and mixed symptoms of peripartum depression and anxiety in late pregnancy. They also stated that Inflammatory and hormonal factors may be add on factors that underlie the association between migraine, depression and anxiety across the peripartum period." However study had its own limitation were migraine history was self-reported. Symptoms of depression and anxiety were based on the screening tool EPDS and not on clinical diagnoses.

For further information: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2021.08.119