Beyond the Pain: Migraine, Depression, and Anxiety in Clinical Practice

Drs. Buse and Bonakdar discuss how migraine is deeply intertwined with mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety, forming a powerful “multimorbidity” cluster that can intensify pain, disability, and stigma. By combining compassionate, stigma-free communication with evidence-based tools—from simple screening questions (such as PHQ-9, GAD-7, and anhedonia prompts) to pharmacologic and behavioral therapies—clinicians can meaningfully improve both migraine and mood outcomes for their patients.