Abstract
Background: Several studies have suggested an association between IgE-mediated atopic
allergies and depression, although thus far no epidemiologic evidence involving a
large, unselected, general-population sample and valid methods in diagnosing atopy
support this putative association.
Methods: We used the Northern Finland 1966 Birth Cohort, which was followed prospectively
to age 31. Of the total cohort, 5428 individuals underwent skin tests for three of
the most common allergens (i.e., cat, birch, and timothy grass) and for dust mites
(Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus). Data on doctor-diagnosed lifetime depression were obtained from questionnaires.
Results: After adjusting for social class, mothers’ parity, place of residence, and
psychiatric morbidity, the logistic regression analysis showed that the risk of developing
depression when compared with nonatopic subjects increased up to 1.8-fold in atopic
women (adjusted odds ratio 1.8, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2–2.6) and, when compared
with skin-test-negative female subjects without allergic symptoms, reached 2.7-fold
increases (95% CI 1.6–4.6) in those suffering from clinically manifest atopic disorders.
Corresponding associations were not found among male subjects.
Conclusions: Our results indicate that women suffering from atopic diseases may possess
an elevated risk for developing depression during early adulthood. Possible background
theories (i.e., genetic abnormalities in serotonin metabolism, hypothalmic-pituitary-adrenal
axis dysfunction, and histamine theory) are discussed.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
December 5,
2001
Received in revised form:
December 3,
2001
Received:
July 13,
2001
Identification
Copyright
© 2002 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
