Migraines Can Signal Psychiatric Woes in Returning Iraq Vets

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The numbers for depression "are in the same range as has been seen in the general population," Erickson said. Comparisons are tougher when it comes to the PTSD-migraine link, he said, "because I don't think that that has ever been examined in a non-military population."

It's also difficult to assess whether the pain of migraine helps trigger depression and anxiety in returning soldiers, or whether these types of psychological ills help spur migraines.

"The study design did not allow us to determine the sequence of events," Erickson explained. However, he noted that "some studies that have been done in the general population suggest that it may be a bi-directional relationship."

Diamond agreed. "For example, if migraines are not controlled properly, they would most likely bring on depression," he said. On the other hand, anxiety "is a frequent trigger for migraine," he said.

Whatever their cause, most migraines can be curbed or controlled, according to Diamond. "However, the National Headache Foundation did a study and found that there are so many sufferers who haven't had proper treatment," he said. "This is a reminder that there are medicines out there both to prevent and treat the acute attack."

Erickson believes the new findings should serve as a wake-up call to military and civilian doctors to look a bit further whenever they spot migraines in a patient, because those headaches could point to psychological troubles, as well.

"That's the main recommendation here," he said.

More information

There's much more on migraines at the National Headache Foundation.