The Journal: Psychosomatic Medicine

The Study: People who are depressed or anxious may be more likely to have allergies than their happier peers, according to data from a survey of more than 3,000 U.S. adults. Although previous studies have found a similar link between mood and allergy, the current study by researchers at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health examined that association not just with depression but also with the so-called neurotic personality.

In general, the researchers found, study participants with depression were 50% more likely than undepressed folks to suffer from an allergy like hay fever. Those with neuroticism—characterized by nervousness, moodiness and anxiety—had a 22% greater risk of allergies compared to other adults.

Interestingly, the link between depression and allergy was stronger in women while that between neuroticism and allergy was stronger in men. Depressed women had a 67% greater risk of allergy compared to other women. Men with neuroticism were 42% more likely to have allergies.

What It Means: Researchers still don’t understand exactly how allergies are related to mood or personality. It could be that something about the immune systems of depressed people makes them more vulnerable to allergies. Or perhaps the torture of dealing with chronic allergies leads people to become depressed. The same chicken-and-egg puzzle applies to people with neurotic personalities, say the study’s authors, which leads them to call for further study into these connections.

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