Migraine

What are comorbid conditions?
With any disease or disorder, it's not uncommon for them to be associated with other comorbid conditions. Comorbid conditions are conditions that occur together, but neither causes the other. There may or may not be an understood physiological link between the conditions, but that's not the same as one causing the other.

We know of some conditions that seem to occur comorbidly among Migraineurs -- depression, thyroid disease, anxiety.

More recent studies have now shown Migraine disease seems to be comorbid to bipolar disorder. A 2003 study showed that the prevalence of Migraine disease among patients with bipolar disorder was high enough for the researchers to conclude,

"Bipolar disorder with migraine is associated with differences in the clinical course of bipolar disorder, and may represent a subtype of bipolar disorder."

Learn more in Migraine Disease and Bipolar Disorder, a Link.

quote:

"Bipolar disorder with migraine is associated with differences in the clinical course of bipolar disorder, and may represent a subtype of bipolar disorder."2

Teri, do you remember what the "differences in the clinical course" of BP for those with migraine were? That really caught my attention as interesting. ALso, could you elaborate on what they meant by it possibly representing a "subtype" of BP? (Do they mean a whole other type? Like Bipolar I vs Bipolar II?)

quote:

"Both bipolar males and females had a significantly higher prevalence of migraine when compared to the general population. Males with BDM (screened positive for a manic episode and migraine) have a more severe illness course and more harmful dysfunction as evinced by earlier age of onset, more anxiety comorbidity, greater use of multiple medications, disability and welfare payments, subjective ratings of health, and utilization of medical services."

Did women who screened positive for migraine and a manic episode also have a more severe illness course and more dysfunction?

Honestly, I don't remember those details. Sorry. I have an early flight to Dallas tomorrow, so I need to get to sleep, but I'll gladly look up the journal article on the study and get more details for you when I get back from Dallas (in a week). If I don't post again with more details, would you please email me or post again to remind me?

Good questions. Thanks!

quote:

Originally posted by Migraineur:
Teri, do you remember what the "differences in the clinical course" of BP for those with migraine were? That really caught my attention as interesting. ALso, could you elaborate on what they meant by it possibly representing a "subtype" of BP? (Do they mean a whole other type? Like Bipolar I vs Bipolar II?)

Did women who screened positive for migraine and a manic episode also have a more severe illness course and more dysfunction?