International journal of child health and human development : IJCHD最新文献

It has been reported that allergies are associated with depression and possibly suicide in women. Aggression is an important behavioral component that predisposes depressed individuals to suicidal acts. In the present study we examined the relationship between allergies and aggression to determine a potential contribution of allergies in factors of risk for suicidal behavior. Because stress plays a critical role in the manifestation of clinical symptoms of allergies and also in suicidal behavior, we also studied the role of acute stress. Female inbred Brown Norway rats known for their susceptibility to respiratory allergies were sensitized and challenged with a mixture of tree pollen and evaluated in the resident-intruder test for detection of aggressive behaviors. They were also subjected to acute stress by sessions of inescapable forced swimming and re-evaluated in the resident intruder test. Animals made allergic to tree pollen and subjected to acute stress displayed increased aggressive-like behavior as compared with control-saline treated animals or to their own aggressive scores previous to the stress session. These results suggest that allergies and stress increases aggressive-like behavior, indicating that these conditions may be important factors promoting altered emotional reactivity with the potential to influence suicidal behavior.

Suicide and decompensation of mental illness peak in spring and, to a lesser extent, in fall. Several recent studies reported that suicide and decompensation peaks coincided with spring and fall aeroallergen peaks. Allergic symptoms occur as the result of a complex biochemical cascade initiated by IgE antibodies (sensitization) and allergens (triggers). Animal models have shown molecular/neurochemical changes in the brain, as well as relevant behavioral changes associated with this IgE-mediated biochemical cascade. These factors suggest that seasonal allergy could precipitate suicidality and mood instability. In the current study, we compared the prior suicide attempt and history of decompensation of mood disorders in allergen sensitive vs nonsensitive patients. Further, we compared the ratio of events (attempts and decompensations) during the allergy season to events occurring during the rest of the year. Patients with Major Depressive Disorder or Bipolar I or II Disorder (n=80) were studied. There were no statistical differences in any measurement performed between the allergen sensitive and nonsensitive patients. These negative results are not consistent with recent epidemiological studies supporting a predictive association between allergy and categorical measures of suicidality (ideation, attempts, and completion). Clinical samples are likely not adequate to study less than strong predictive associations with suicide and suicide risk factors.

The high rate of comorbidity of asthma and mood disorders would imply the possibility of potential shared pathophysiologic factors. Proposed links between asthma and mood disorders include a vulnerability (trait) and state connection. Vulnerability for both asthma and mood disorders may involve genetic and early developmental factors. State-related connections may include obstructive factors, inflammatory factors, sleep impairment, psychological reactions to chronic medical illness, as well as exacerbation of asthma in individuals with chronic stress. Treatment for asthma may also exacerbate mood disorders. New research suggests involvement of the central nervous system in asthma and allergy. Further characterization of clinical, psychological, cellular and molecular interconnections between asthma and mood disorders is needed to better evaluate and treat these patients. A close collaboration between mental health professionals and allergists could result in improved symptom control, quality of life, overall functioning and ultimately, decreased mortality.

Considering clinical and animal evidence suggesting a relationship between allergy and anxiety, we hypothesized that, from low to high aeroallergen exposure, changes in anxiety symptom scores in patients with primary mood disorders will correlate with changes in allergy symptom scores. We also anticipated that sensitization to tree pollen, as determined by allergen specific IgE antibodies, will predict a greater worsening of anxiety during exposure to tree pollen. 51 patients with unipolar or bipolar disorder (age: 19-63 years, 65% female) were recruited. Tree- pollen IgE positive subjects (12) were included as the experimental group and patients negative to a multi-allergen serological test (39) were included in the control group. Self reports of anxiety and allergy symptoms were obtained once during the peak airborne pollen counts and once during the period of low airborne pollen counts, as reported by two local pollen counting stations. Using linear regression models, we confirmed a significant positive association between allergy scores and anxiety scores (p<0.04); however, the IgE specific tree pollen positivity was not significantly associated with changes in anxiety scores. Because changes in anxiety scores relate to changes in depression scores, the relationship between allergy and anxiety involves states rather than only traits, and as such, our results lead to future efforts to uncover potential anxiety triggering, exacerbating or perpetuating role of allergens in vulnerable individuals.

Rapid Cycling Bipolar Disorder (RCBD) outpatients completed twice-daily mood self-ratings for 3 consecutive months. These ratings were matched with local measurements of atmospheric pressure, cloud cover, and temperature. Several alternative second order differential equation models were fit to the data in which mood oscillations in RCBD were allowed to be linearly coupled with daily weather patterns. The modeling results were consistent with an account of mood regulation that included intrinsic homeostatic regulation as well as coupling between weather and mood. Models were tested first in a nomothetic method where models were fit over all individuals and fit statistics of each model compared to one another. Since substantial individual differences in intrinsic dynamics were observed, the models were next fit using an ideographic method where each individual's data were fit separately and best-fitting models identified. The best-fitting within-individual model for the largest number of individuals was also the best-fitting nomothetic model: temperature and the first derivative of temperature coupled to mood and no effect of barometric pressure or cloud cover. But this model was not the best-fitting model for all individuals, suggesting that there may be substantial individual differences in the dynamic association between weather and mood in RCBD patients. Heterogeneity in the parameters of the differential equation model of homeostatic equilibrium as well as the coupling of mood to an inherently unpredictable (i.e., nonstationary) process such as weather provide an alternative account for reported broadband frequency spectra of daily mood in RCBD.