title: Effects of escitalopram on symptoms and quality of life in patients with allergic rhinitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Insufficient response to treatment and declining quality of life illustrate the continuing need to find new treatment modalities for allergic rhinitis (AR). The purpose of this study was to assess how escitalopram affects symptoms and quality of life among AR  patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included 120 patients with AR, who were divided into four treatment groups of 30 patients each. Patients were assessed before treatment and at the end of the 3rd month based on nasal symptom scores, otorhinolaryngological examination, the Rhinoconjunctivitis  Quality of Life Questionnaire, and the Beck Depression and Anxiety Inventory. All patients received standardized treatments. Group A patients with positive Beck Depression and Anxiety Inventory scores received escitalopram, and group B patients with positive Beck Depression and Anxiety Inventory  scores received placebo. Group C patients with negative Beck Depression and Anxiety Inventory scores received escitalopram, and group D patients with negative Beck Depression and Anxiety Inventory scores received placebo.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Anxiety scores pre- and posttreatment revealed  a statistically significant reduction in groups A, C, and D. All four groups exhibited reduced posttreatment scores for sleep, nonnasal and noneye symptoms, eye symptoms, and emotions. A statistically significant difference appeared between groups A and B in terms of general complaints and  nasal symptom scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The positive effects of escitalopram on posttreatment quality of life in the Beck-positive patient group were a predictable outcome. Otolaryngologists should pay more attention to the moods of their patients with AR while they evaluate  treatment during clinical follow-up visits.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, GATA Haydarpasa Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. evrenerkul@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Evren
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Erkul
authors.forename: Cemal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cingi
authors.forename: Müge
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Özçelik Korkmaz
authors.forename: Tuğba
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Çekiç
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Çukurova
authors.forename: Aytekin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yaz
authors.forename: Nagehan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Erdoğmuş
authors.forename: Cengiz
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D015283:Citalopram / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004644:Emotions / Q000187:drug effects; D005123:Eye / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009666:Nose / Q000187:drug effects; D011788:Quality of Life; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D015283:Citalopram