title: Atopic disorders and depression: findings from a large, population-based study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Atopy, a common disorder characterized by a sensitivity to allergic reactions, affects a large proportion of the adult population and, as with depression, is associated with immune-inflammatory pathway changes. We sought to determine the role of atopic disorders in depression using data from a randomly-selected, population-based study of men and women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional data derived from the Geelong Osteoporosis Study for 942 males and 1085 females were analyzed. Depression [major depressive disorder (MDD), minor depression and dysthymia] was assessed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-TR Research Version, Non-patient edition. Data on medical conditions, including atopic disorders (asthma, hay fever and eczema), smoking status, alcohol consumption, socioeconomic status, and physical activity were documented by self-report. Logistic regression modeling was used to explore the associations between atopic disorders and depression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Atopic disorders were associated with a 59% increased likelihood of depression [gender and smoking-adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1:50, 95% CI 1.20-1.97]. Sub-group analyses revealed a similar pattern for those with MDD [gender and smoking-adjusted OR 1:54, 95% CI 1.22-1.94]. These associations were independent of socio-demographic characteristics, clinical and lifestyle factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reliance on self-report for allergic symptoms and cross-sectional nature of study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This population-based study provides evidence of the potential contribution of allergic disorders to depression. Further research is required to elucidate the direction of this association and to further explicate its underlying physiology, including immune-inflammation markers.
authors.affiliation: Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sensory Organs Department (NeSMOS), Unit of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy; School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia. Electronic address: liviasanna@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Livia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sanna
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia. Electronic address: amandh@barwonhealth.org.au.
authors.forename: Amanda L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Stuart
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia; Division of Medicine, Barwon Health, Geelong, Australia; NorthWest Academic Centre, Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne, Western Health, St Albans, Australia. Electronic address: juliep@barwonhealth.org.au.
authors.forename: Julie A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Pasco
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia; Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia. Electronic address: felice@barwonhealth.org.au.
authors.forename: Felice N
authors.initials: FN
authors.lastname: Jacka
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia; Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia; Orygen Youth Health Research Centre, Parkville, Australia; Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Australia. Electronic address: mikebe@barwonhealth.org.au.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berk
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia. Electronic address: dr.michaelmaes@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maes
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia; School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Prahran, Australia. Electronic address: aoneil@barwonhealth.org.au.
authors.forename: Adrienne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: O'Neil
authors.affiliation: Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sensory Organs Department (NeSMOS), Unit of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy. Electronic address: paolo.girardi@uniroma1.it.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Girardi
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia; Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia. Electronic address: lanaw@barwonhealth.org.au.
authors.forename: Lana J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology; D019263:Dysthymic Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology; D004485:Eczema / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D011446:Prospective Studies; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000453:epidemiology*; D057566:Self Report; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
keywords: 5-HT; 5-hydroxytryptamine; ABS; Allergic disorders; Atopy; Australian Bureau of Statistics; BMI; C-reactive protein; CI; CMI; CRP; Cytokines; Depression; GOS; Geelong Osteoporosis Study; ICAM-1; IL; IRSAD; IgE; Immune system; Index of Relative Socioeconomic Advantage/Disadvantage; Inflammation; MDD; NHANES III; O&NS; OR; SCID-I/NP; SEIFA; SES; Socio-Economic Index for Areas; Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-TR Research Version, Non-patient edition; T regulatory; TNFα; Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey; Treg; body mass index; cell-mediated immune; confidence intervals; immunoglobulin E; interleukin; intracellular adhesion molecule-1; major depressive disorder; odds ratio; oxidative and nitrosative stress; socio-economic status; tumor necrosis factor α