Negative impact of migraine on quality of life after 4 weeks of treatment in patients with major depressive disorder

Aim: The impact of migraine on health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) among patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) after acute antidepressant treatment has not been addressed. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether or not the negative impact of migraine on HRQoL among outpatients with MDD continued to have an effect after 4 weeks of venlafaxine treatment. Methods: A total of 135 outpatients with MDD were enrolled, who were then treated with venlafaxine 75 mg per day for 4 weeks in the present open‐label study. Migraine was diagnosed based on the International Classification of Headache Disorders (2nd edn). Changes in Short‐Form 36 (SF‐36) and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) scores were the outcome measures. Multiple linear regression was used to assess whether migraine was an independent factor predicting SF‐36 score after treatment. Results: Seventy‐two participants (18M/54F) completed the 4‐week treatment. Subjects with migraine had a poorer HRQoL in terms of bodily pain and mental health at baseline. Subjects with and without migraine showed significant improvement in all SF‐36 subscales and depression after treatment, but subjects with migraine still had a poorer HRQoL regarding bodily pain and physical functioning after treatment as compared with those without migraine. Migraine could predict a negative outcome after treatment in the subscales of physical functioning, role limitations–physical, and role limitations–emotional. Conclusions: Migraine may have a negative impact on the improvement of partial SF‐36 subscales, especially on functional recovery, after acute treatment among outpatients with MDD. Whether additional intervention besides antidepressant treatment for migraine is indicated may need further study.