Migraine disease and medication overuse headache can impact a person’s mental health

For World Mental Health Day, October 10^th, Gisela Terwindt, Professor of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands, discussed how migraine and medication overuse headache can impact a person’s mental health, including experiencing co-morbid depression and anxiety. It’s important, highlighted Professor Terwindt, that patients aren’t blamed, or blame themselves, when it comes to depression and anxiety as there is a genetic predisposition linking these with migraine. Addressing these symptoms is vital, especially in people with chronic migraine. Medication that can prevent migraine can also positively impact depression and anxiety occurrence.