Allergies Can Worsen Depression

Filed in archive Allergy: Research and Development , Hay Fever on May 28, 2010

© saragoldsmith

Allergies make one more prone to worsening mood, cognition and quality of life. Allergy season is not only bad for those allergy sufferers but could be to to those suffering from depression and dark moods.

Such were the findings reported at the American Psychiatric Association's annual meeting in New Orleans this week. A large peak in pollen particles floating in the air occurs in the spring, with a smaller peak in the fall -- coinciding with a worldwide spike in suicides every spring and a lower peak in the fall.

The researchers recruited 100 volunteers from Baltimore and Washington, D.C. who had major depression. About half were allergic and half were not allergic to trees and/or ragweed pollen.

According to study author Dr. Partam Manalai:

"Patients with mood disorders who were allergic to an aeroallergen experienced a worsening in mood when they were exposed to the allergen. Patients who have both of these disorders might be more vulnerable to depression in peak pollen season. Treating those conditions might prevent them from having a depressive episode during high-pollen season.

This is believed to be the first study to link actual IgE measurements with depression scores.