Atopy and depression: results from the Northern Finland 1966 Birth Cohort Study

Abstract

Several studies have suggested an association between IgE-mediated atopic allergies and depression. The present study extends our understanding about putative gender differences of this association and provides further epidemiological evidence for our previous finding that the association between atopy and depression may be characteristic for females only. In order to clearly determine the presence of atopic disorders and depression, we used more valid tools than had been employed earlier and we had access to a database (the Northern Finland 1966 Birth Cohort), in which individuals were followed up prospectively until the age of 31 years. The information on allergic symptoms, verified by skin-prick tests and comprising data of 5518 individuals, was used to ascertain the presence of atopy. Depression was assessed with the help of Hopkins' Symptom Checklist-25 and self-reported doctor-diagnosed depression. After adjusting for a father's social class, mother's parity, and place of residence, logistic regression analyses showed that the risk of developing depression increased in parallel with the increasing severity of depression and, when compared with nonatopic subjects, was 3.0 to 4.7-fold up in atopic females and statistically significant. In atopic males, the association between atopy and depression was statistically significant only in the highest depression scores, the odds ratio being 6.3-fold. The results indicate that females suffering from atopic diseases might possess an elevated risk of developing depression already during early adulthood. In males, the association between these two disorders is evident only among the most severe manifestations of depression. Possible background theories, that is, genetic abnormalities in serotonin metabolism, HPA-axis dysfunction, and histamine theory are discussed.

Association of a corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 1 haplotype and antidepressant treatment response in Mexican-Americans

“…50,51 Of interest, an association between depression and atopy has been recently reported in the Northern Finland 1966 Birth Cohort. 52,53 It is noteworthy that CRHR1 has a key role in inflammation, 54,55 and that CRHR1 antagonists, which have been used to treat depression, 34,35 also suppress peripheral inflammation. [56][57][58] Antidepressants are known to modulate inflammatory responses after chronic administration, in a time course that is reminiscent of the time frame of antidepressant effects and they also confer protection against cytokine-induced depressive-like biological and behavioral changes.…”

Childhood interleukin-6, C-reactive protein and atopic disorders as risk factors for hypomanic symptoms in young adulthood: a longitudinal birth cohort study

“…A longitudinal association between asthma and subsequent hospitalization for schizophrenia, and adult diagnoses of depression has been reported (Timonen et al 2003;Pedersen et al 2012;Sanna et al 2014), and three longitudinal studies have reported increased rates of bipolar disorder in individuals with asthma (Liang & Chikritzhs, 2013;Chen et al 2014;Lin et al 2014). IL-6, C-reactive protein (CRP) and other inflammatory markers are associated with asthma and eczema (Takemura et al 2006;Arif et al 2007;Rincon & Irvin, 2012).…”

Is Atopy Related to Neuroticism, Stress, and Subjective Quality of Life?

“…Klokk et al (30) studied the relationships between total and allergen-specifi c IgE and symptoms of anxiety and depression in women. Unlike Timonen et al (28,29), they did not fi nd any association between depression/anxiety and IgE levels.…”

“…When the subjects were also categorised according to the severity of depression symptoms (29), the authors observed a higher proportion of diagnosed depressions in women with a positive prick test and suffering from allergic symptoms than in women with a negative skin prick test and without allergy symptoms irrespective of depression severity. In men, however, this association was found only in subjects having the most pronounced symptoms of depression (29). Klokk et al (30) studied the relationships between total and allergen-specifi c IgE and symptoms of anxiety and depression in women.…”

“…Timonen et al (28,29) studied the relationship between objectively documented atopy and depression. Atopy was documented by the skin prick test, while depression was diagnosed by a doctor and its severity measured with a symptom checklist.…”