Allergies and Mental Health
"Allergic Mood"
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First published: 13. Jan.2025
Overview
Allergies, and especially allergic rhinitis can provoke mental health issues like anxiety, stress, and depression.
The sleep-disrupting effects of nasal obstruction and congestion, coupled with the inflammation and oxidative stress caused by the immune allergic reaction provoke mood disorders and alter behavior. Allergic rhinitis is associated with the seasonal spring peaks of suicide suggesting that vulnerable individuals are at risk.
Here we will explore the link between allergies and mental health problems.
References and Further Reading
(1) Linton, Sophia et al., (2023). Evidence-based use of antihistamines for treatment of allergic conditions. Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, Volume 131, Issue 4, 412 - 420 Oct. 2023
(2) Muñoz-Cano, R., Ribó, P., Araujo, G. et al. , (2018). Severity of allergic rhinitis impacts sleep and anxiety: results from a large Spanish cohort. Clin Transl Allergy 8, 23 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13601-018-0212-0
(3) Ya-Kui Mou, Han-Rui Wang, Wen-Bin Zhang, Yu Zhang, Chao Ren, Xi-Cheng Song, (2022). Allergic Rhinitis and Depression: Profile and Proposal. Front. Psychiatry, 03 January 2022 Sec. Mood Disorders Volume 12 - 2021 https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.820497
(4) Rodrigues J, Franco-Pego F, Sousa-Pinto B, Bousquet J, Raemdonck K, Vaz R., (2020). Anxiety and depression risk in patients with allergic rhinitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Rhinology. 2021 Aug 1;59(4):360-373. doi: 10.4193/Rhin21.087. PMID: 34254060
(5) Trikojat K, Luksch H, Rösen-Wolff A, Plessow F, Schmitt J, Buske-Kirschbaum A. , (2017). "Allergic mood" - Depressive and anxiety symptoms in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) and their association to inflammatory, endocrine, and allergic markers. Brain Behav Immun. 2017 Oct;65:202-209. doi: 10.1016/j.bbi.2017.05.005. Epub 2017 May 8. PMID: 28495610
(6) R. D. Goodwin, S. Galea, M. Perzanowski and F. Jacobi, (2012). Impact of allergy treatment on the association between allergies and mood and anxiety in a population sample. Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 2012 (42) 1765–1771
(7) Brew BK, Lundholm C, Gong T, Larsson H, Almqvist C., (2018). The familial aggregation of atopic diseases and depression or anxiety in children. Clin Exp Allergy. 2018; 48: 703–711. https://doi.org/10.1111/cea.13127
(8) Sarlus H, Höglund CO, Karshikoff B, Wang X, Lekander M, Schultzberg M, Oprica M., (2012). Allergy influences the inflammatory status of the brain and enhances tau-phosphorylation. J Cell Mol Med. 2012 Oct;16(10):2401-12. doi: 10.1111/j.1582-4934.2012.01556.x. PMID: 22356650
(9) Ludvigsson, Jonas F. et al., (2001). Celiac disease confers a 1.6-fold increased risk of asthma: A nationwide population-based cohort study. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Volume 127, Issue 4, 1071 - 1073.e4 April 2001
(10) Patterson AM, Yildiz VO, Klatt MD, Malarkey WB., (2013). Perceived stress predicts allergy flares. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2014 Apr;112(4):317-21. doi: 10.1016/j.anai.2013.07.013. Epub 2013 Aug 6. PMID: 24428966
(11) Postolache TT, Komarow H, Tonelli LH., (2008). Allergy: a risk factor for suicide?. Curr Treat Options Neurol. 2008 Sep;10(5):363-76. doi: 10.1007/s11940-008-0039-4. PMID: 18782509
About this Article
Allergies and Mental Health, A. Whittall
©2025 Fit-and-Well.com. First Published: 13.Jan.2025. Update scheduled for 13.Jan.2028. https://www.fit-and-well.com/wellness/allergies-and-mood.html
Tags: allergies, anxiety, depression, stress, suicide, hay fever, celiac, Alzheimer's disease, mood