Northbrook, IL -- March 7, 2008 -- A new study has found that people with migraine headaches are at a higher risk for bipolar disorder, while people with tension headaches alone are not at an increased risk.  
   
The study, Bipolar Spectrum in Migraine, Cluster, and Chronic Tension Headache, was recently published in U.S. Neurological Disease, Volume 3, Issue II.  In the study, neurologist and headache specialist Dr. Lawrence Robbins assessed 1200 migraine patients for co-existing mood disorders.  Of these patients, 8.6% were diagnosed as being on the bipolar spectrum. This is more than twice the rate for bipolar disorder in the general population.  Tension headache patients who did not suffer from migraine were also evaluated, and 4.5% were found to be bipolar.  This is similar to the expected rate in the general population, where approximately 4% of people are bipolar.  

Bipolarity and migraine are thought to share common genetic links. Mild bipolar symptoms can be missed in diagnosing a depressed patient whose chief complaint is a headache. Often, antidepressants are prescribed instead of mood stabilizing drugs. When the wrong medications are prescribed, patients have predictably poor results. Antidepressants can even trigger bouts of mania.  This study illustrates that, in depressed patients with migraines, a thorough assessment for bipolar disorder should be done.  

The study was done by Lawrence Robbins, M.D., who is an Assistant Professor of Neurology at Rush Medical College. Dr. Robbins is the director of a private headache clinic in Northbrook.  He is the author of two books, Headache Help and Management of Headache and Headache Medications, and  over 175 articles on headache. In 2008, he was named as the ‘Pain Physician of the Year' by a major pain organization, and he has consistently been named one of ‘Chicago’s Top Doctors’ and 'America’s Top Doctors'.

Dr. Robbins provides headache information to the public via his website, www.headachedrugs.com .  His radio show can be heard on Talkzone.com.
                    
Contact: Lawrence Robbins, M.D. at   This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
847-480-9510 (day)     847-940-9917 (night)     847-480-9044 (fax)   

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