Association between Anxiety and Depression in Allergic Diseases

The aim of the present work is to determine whether there is an association between anxiety, depression and allergic disorders, or any important prevalence between these associations. From September 2010 to September 2014, 148 subjects (88 women and 60 men) ranging in age between 13 and 76 years were enrolled in this study. All the patients had a diagnosis of allergic disease. The Hamilton and Zung psychometric scales were used for anxiety and depression disorders, respectively. The association, if any, of anxiety and depression with allergy was assessed in patients who came for consultation about allergy disorders and who had not previously received psychopharmacological medication or psychotherapy. The presence of anxiety and depression was interpreted as another factor for the onset of allergic symptoms in addition to the classical ones which, taken as a whole, lead to the diagnosis of the disease. The findings showed a positive association of 96% for anxiety and a positive prevalence of 66% for depression. Our conclusions show a positive association between anxiety and allergy and between depression and allergy. These results would indicate the importance of making a correct diagnosis of anxiety and depression and of treating these disorders in allergic patients. This study was conducted with the contributions of Scientific Psychosomatics and Psychoneuroimmunoendocrinology (PNIE).