Impact of Allergy Treatment on the Association Between Allergies and Mood and Anxiety in a Population Sample

Overview

Journal Clin Exp Allergy

Specialty Allergy & Immunology

Date 2012 Nov 28

PMID 23181792

Citations 14

Authors

R D Goodwin

S Galea

M Perzanowski

F Jacobi

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Previous studies have suggested an association between allergy and mood and anxiety disorders. Yet, extant work suffers from methodological limitations.

Objective: To investigate the association between physician-diagnosed allergy and DSM-IV mood and anxiety disorders in the general population, and to examine the role of allergy treatment in this relationship.

Methods: Data were drawn from the German National Health Interview and Examination Survey, a population-based, representative sample of 4,181 adults aged 18-65 in Germany. Allergy was diagnosed by physicians during medical examination and mental disorders were diagnosed using the CIDI.

Results: Allergy was associated with an increased prevalence of any anxiety disorder [OR = 1.3 (1.1, 1.6)], panic attacks [OR = 1.6 (1.1, 2.1)], panic disorder [OR = 1.6 (1.01, 2.3)], GAD [OR = 1.8 (1.1, 3.0)], any mood disorder [OR = 1.4 (1.1, 1.7)], depression [OR = 1.4 (1.1, 1.7)] and bipolar disorder [OR = 2.0, (1.0, 3.8)]. After adjusting for desensitization treatment status, these relationships were no longer significant. Those treated for allergy were significantly less likely to have any mood or anxiety disorder [OR = 0.65 (0.4, 0.96)], compared to those untreated. All relationships were adjusted for age, gender and socioeconomic status (SES).

Conclusions & Clinical Relevance: These findings provide the first evidence of a link between physician-diagnosed allergy and DSM-IV mood and anxiety disorders in a representative sample. Treatment for allergy may mitigate much of this relationship.

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