Comorbidity of Sleep Disorders, Mental Illness, and Migraine or Headaches

Abstract

This study assesses the comorbidity of mental illness, sleep disorders, and migraine/headaches among employees in a large organization in the USA. The comorbidity of migraine/headaches and sleep disorders or mental illness has been well studied. However, simultaneous comorbidity of all three is less well known. Analyses were based on the Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrator employee database, derived from billing codes for employees and their families during the years 2017–2021. Statistical analyses were performed and adjusted for age, sex, marital status, dependent children, annual household income, and year. The claims rate for migraine is 2.2% and for headache is 0.95%. The claims rate for sleep disorder is 12.2%, with 34.6% having comorbid mental illness, primarily in the form of depression (18.4%), anxiety (18.0%), and ADHD (4.0%). The claims rate for mental illness is 18.4%, with comorbid sleep disorders 22.9%: 17.5% with sleep apnea, 6.5% with insomnia, and 2.2% with hypersomnia. Those with a sleep disorder are 130% times more likely to have migraine and 91% more likely to have headaches. Corresponding values for mental illness are 160% and 116%. Those with a sleep disorder only, mental illness only, or both (versus neither) are 133%, 162%, and 289% more likely to experience migraine, respectively. Corresponding values for headache are 92%, 118%, and 187%. Sleep and mental disorders positively associate with migraine and headache, more so when both are involved. The positive associations are stronger for migraine than headache.

Improvement of comorbid anxiety and depression in patients with migraine treated with injectable preventive calcitonin gene-related peptide antagonists: Review of clinical evidence

“…Conversely, a study examining the overlap of mental illness, sleep disorders, and migraines/headaches in a large US organization from 2017 to 2021 revealed that individuals with both sleep and mental disorders, particularly depression and anxiety, are more prone to migraines, with 1.30 and 1.60 increase in the likelihood, respectively. Furthermore, those with only a sleep disorder, only mental illness, or both are respectively 1.33, 1.62, and 2.89 more likely to experience migraines ( Merrill & Gibbons, 2023 ). Given the increased risk of comorbid psychiatric symptoms in migraine patients, it is essential to explore and evaluate the effectiveness of new migraine preventive treatments for those with comorbid anxiety and/or depression ( Jette et al, 2008 ).…”

Connectivity of the insular subdivisions differentiates posttraumatic headache-associated from nonheadache-associated mild traumatic brain injury: an arterial spin labelling study

“…Previous studies have reported that the cumulative incidence of PTH within 1 year after mTBI is as high as 91% [ 5 , 6 ]. Although PTH may be the only symptom after a head injury, it is often accompanied by other trauma-related symptoms, including sleep problems, posttraumatic stress, imbalance or vertigo, cognitive dysfunction, personality changes, depression, anxiety, and extracranial pain [ 7 – 9 ]. However, no specific symptoms or headache features have been shown to contribute to the diagnosis of PTH [ 10 ].…”