Adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is associated with migraine headaches

Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2011 Dec;261(8):595-602. doi: 10.1007/s00406-011-0203-9. Epub 2011 Mar 11.

Abstract

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is now recognized as a common disorder both in child and adult psychiatry. Adult patients with a diagnosis of ADHD (n = 572) and community controls (n = 675) responded to auto-questionnaires rating past and present symptoms of ADHD, co-morbid conditions, including migraine, treatment history and work status. The prevalence of migraine was significantly higher in the patient group compared to the controls (28.3% vs. 19.2%, P < 0.001, OR = 1.67, CI 1.28-2.17). The difference from controls was particularly marked for men (22.5% vs. 10.7%, P < 0.001, OR = 2.43, CI 1.51-3.90) but was also significant for women (34.4% vs. 24.9%, P = 0.008, OR = 1.58, CI 1.13-2.21). In both patients and controls, migraine was associated with symptoms of mood and anxiety disorders. These findings point to a co-morbidity of migraine with ADHD, and it is possible that these patients represent a clinical and biological subgroup of adult patients with ADHD.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Anxiety Disorders / complications
  • Anxiety Disorders / epidemiology
  • Anxiety Disorders / psychology
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / complications*
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / epidemiology
  • Comorbidity
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Educational Status
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Migraine Disorders / complications*
  • Migraine Disorders / epidemiology
  • Mood Disorders / complications
  • Mood Disorders / epidemiology
  • Mood Disorders / psychology
  • Norway / epidemiology
  • Occupations
  • Registries
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Sex Factors
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Surveys and Questionnaires