The U.S. and U.K. data also shows a strong link between migraine and depression.
Quality of life measures the impact in human terms.
We're not just robots who go to work, but individuals who lead full productive lives, which can be limited by illness in many dimensions. Forty-seven percent of the migraine sufferers experienced depression, compared to only 17 percent of people without migraine. However, research shows that while migraine and depression are linked, they have independent causes and both cause a reduced quality of life. We think the two disorders must have a common neurobiology. The studies surveyed the general public and included migraine sufferers who have not have seen a doctor.