Association between lifetime headache and history of suicide attempts in the elderly.

BACKGROUND: Pain-related conditions have been reported to play a key role among risk factors for suicide. Headache in particular has been repeatedly associated with suicidal thoughts and behaviors. The aims of this study were: 1) to assess the association between lifetime headache (both non-migrainous headache and migraine) and lifetime suicide attempts (SA); 2) to differentiate, within subjects with lifetime SA, patients with and without lifetime headache in terms of socio-demographic and clinical features.

METHODS: We studied 1965 subjects from a cohort of community-dwelling persons aged 65 years and over without dementia (the ESPRIT study), divided in two groups: those with (n=75), and those without a lifetime SA (n=1890). Logistic regression analyses were used to compare these groups according to lifetime headache status.

RESULTS: After adjusting for gender, living alone, tobacco and alcohol consumption, and depressive, manic/hypomanic and anxiety disorders, lifetime headache frequency was significantly higher in subjects with a lifetime SA compared with controls (OR=1.92 [1.17-3.15]). Additionally, different factors were identified as being associated with lifetime SA in participants with lifetime headache (female gender, a lower level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, insomnia, lifetime major depression) versus participants without headache (glycemia and lifetime major depression).

CONCLUSIONS: Lifetime headache was associated with lifetime SA. Subjects who are women and report the co-occurrence of headache and insomnia as well as lifetime major depression require higher attention and a careful screening for suicidal thoughts and behaviors.