The January issue of Neurology has a new study showing again the link between migraine headaches, depression, and other “somatic symptoms.” 
1,032 women who suffer from migraine headaches were given a survey to track their headache symptoms, their level of depression, and other symptoms in the body.
18% of the women surveyed suffered from a major depressive disorder and an additional 17% had other types depressive disorders.
Even after adjusting the statistics to take into account the depression, migraine sufferers were significantly more likely to have pain elsewhere in the body. These symptoms included stomach pain, back pain, pain or problems during intercourse, feeling tired, and trouble sleeping.
The authors note, “We hypothesize that severe headache, severe somatic symptoms, and major depression may be linked through dysfunction of the serotonergic system, and studies are underway to test this theory.”
The serotonergic system involves serotonin, of course, and serotonin is involved in reducing pain in the body at the brainstem, modulating migraine pain and brain perfusion in the blood vessels surrounding the brain, and is active in creating a sense of euphoria–which is affected during depression.
Todd Lloyd, DC
Chiropractic care in St. George, UT
There isn’t a profession more misunderstood than Chiropractic. Most people, when asked, think a Chiropractor is a “back doctor”. While this is true in part, there’s a whole lot more to the art and science of Chiropractic.