Neurological Sciences

, Volume 31, Supplement 1, pp 99–101 | Cite as

Therapeutic strategies in migraine patients with mood and anxiety disorders: physiopathological basis

  • Gerardo Casucci
  • Veronica Villani
  • Cinzia Finocchi
Symposium: Therapeutic Strategies in the Treatment of Migraine
First Online:

Abstract

Multiple epidemiologic studies have reported a strong comorbidity between migraine and various psychiatric disorders. Migraine, depression and anxiety could share neurobiological abnormalities in the same neuronal networks. Derangement in central monoaminergic systems is probably the major physiopathological event involved. Abnormalities of metabolism of glutamate and GABA, substances controlling the balance, respectively, between excitation and inhibition in the central nervous system, have also been suggested. A mitochondrial cellular energy failure in the brain of migraine sufferers and psychiatric patients has finally been hypothesized. An antidepressive action of triptans has been suggested. Several antidepressant drugs play a role in migraine prevention. Some antiepileptic drugs have shown to be effective in the treatment of migraine and psychiatric disorders. Nutritional supplements acting on mitochondrial metabolism could improve migraine and depression.

Keywords

Migraine Depression Anxiety Comorbidity Pharmacological treatments 
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Notes

Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge Alfonsina Palmieri for her support.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest related to the publication of this article.

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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag 2010

Authors and Affiliations

  • Gerardo Casucci
    • 1
  • Veronica Villani
    • 2
  • Cinzia Finocchi
    • 3
  1. 1.Casa di Cura S. FrancescoTelese Terme (BN)Italy
  2. 2.Neurology UnitS. Andrea Hospital “La Sapienza” UniversityRomeItaly
  3. 3.Department of Neurological Sciences, Ophthalmology and GeneticsUniversity of GenoaGenoaItaly

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