Citation

Woolley SB, Fredman L, Goethe JW, Lincoln AK, Heeren T. J. Nerv. Ment. Dis. 2008; 196(11): 822-828.

Affiliation

Burlingame Center for Psychiatric Research and Education, The Institute of Living, Hartford, Connecticu 06106, USA. swoolle@harthosp.org

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/NMD.0b013e31818b4e4f

PMID

19008733

Abstract

The association between severe headaches and suicidal thoughts or behaviors is generally attributed to underlying depression, but it is plausible that severe headaches can lead to suicidal thoughts/behaviors, independent of the effects of psychiatric conditions. This association has been observed in only 1 previous study. Our multivariate analysis examined the longitudinal association between severe headaches and development of suicidal thoughts/behaviors over a period of 1 to 2 years among 6832 community-dwelling adults interviewed during the Epidemiologic Catchment Area Study. Severe headaches were significantly associated with developing suicidal thoughts/behaviors after adjusting for psychiatric diagnoses and demographics [adjusted odds ratio (ORa) = 1.48; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.04, 2.11], or additionally adjusting for interaction between anxiety and depression (ORa = 1.52; 95% CI = 1.07, 2.16). These results suggest that individuals with severe headaches should be screened for suicidal thoughts/behaviors, irrespective of the presence of a psychiatric condition.

Language: en