[The influence of allergic rhinitis on negative emotion].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the influence of allergic rhinitis on negative emotion.

METHOD

One hundred and ninety cases with allergic rhinitis as observer group were investigated by state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI) and self-rating depressive scale (SDS). According to pathogenetic condition, patients were divided into persistent allergic rhinitis 71 cases (A group) and intermittent allergic rhinitis 119 cases (B group). Meanwhile, 190 healthy persons as control group were compared with observer group.

RESULT

(1) The main allergens of allergic rhinitis were dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, dermatophagoides farina, pollen, and epiphyte, which the skin index was above "++" by skin prick test. (2) The state anxiety score of observer group (42.17±16.21) was significantly higher than control group (38.78±16.54), t=2.02, P<0.05. There were no difference in trait anxiety between observer group and control group (41.25±16.16 vs. 41.19±16.84), P>0.05. The anxiety scores of female in A and B groups were higher than that of female in control group (43.77±15.76, 42.93±15.58 vs 38.44±15.71), P<0.05. (3) The score of SDS in A and B group was significantly higher than that of control group (37.78±9.22, 39.65±9.87 vs 35.24±7.81), P<0.01. The rate of depression in observer group (11.6%, 22/190) was significantly higher than that of control group (2.6%, 5/190), Χ2=11.52, P<0.01.

CONCLUSION

The allergic rhinitis may cause patients anxiety and depression, especially for female, but patients with allergic rhinitis have no significant trait anxiety.