Analysis of psychological variables – depression levels, anxiety and mood traits - in patients with asthma, chronic urticaria and Hymenoptera venom allergy

Abstract

Introduction: Depressive, anxiety and mood disorders are common comorbidities in patients with asthma and chronic urticaria (CU). Components of these disorders may be also observed in patients with Hymenoptera venom allergy (HVA) who worry about life-threatening sting by an insect. Aims and Objectives: To assess the levels of depression, anxiety and mood disorders in patients with asthma, CU and HVA in comparison to healthy subjects. Methods: The study involved 93 individuals: 47 with asthma, 18 with chronic urticaria, 11 with hymenoptera insect venom allergy and 17 healthy individuals. Depression levels were measured using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), trait and state anxieties using the Spielberg’s State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and mood using THE UMACL MOOD ADJECTIVE CHECKLIST (UMACL). Results: The mean BDI scores were: 10,5/30 in asthma group, 7,2/30 in healthy individuals, 5,7/30 in chronic urticaria group and 4,4/30 in hymenoptera venom allergy group. These values did not differ statistically between groups. State anxiety was highest in asthma group (mean raw result 39,5) and lowest in healthy individuals (mean raw result 34,25). No significant differences were observed in mood traits in the analysed groups using UMACL. Conclusions: Among the analysed groups, patients with asthma reached highest BDI score and trait and state anxiety levels. An interesting phenomenon observed in this study, which need further examination, are higher BDI scores in healthy individuals than in CU and HVA groups. This study was financially supported by a grant from Medical University of Lodz (no.564/1-000-00/564-20-026)