Demographic correlates of anxiety and depression symptoms in chronic sinonasal diseases.
OBJECTIVE
To explore mental health of patients with olfactory loss due to chronic sinonasal diseases and investigate the effects of age-, gender-, and socio-economic variables on anxiety and depression symptoms.


METHODS
One hundred and eight patients (62 males; mean age: 39.78 ± 16.11 years), suffering from olfactory impairment due to chronic rhinosinusitis and allergic rhinitis and 30 healthy subjects (16 males; mean age, 37.03 ± 13.09 years) were studied. Olfactory function was evaluated using "Sniffin' Sticks" test. All patients completed four validated questionnaires specific for assessing anxiety and depression (Zung Anxiety Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-STAI, Zung Depression Scale, and Beck Depression Inventory-BDI).


RESULTS
We found significantly more severe anxiety and depression symptoms in anosmic (all p < 0.001) and hyposmic patients compared to healthy controls. No significant differences were observed between normosmic patients and controls. Scores in all psychological measures were significantly higher in elderly and female patients as well as in low, compared to high, socio-economic status patients. No significant differences were found between low and medium socio-economic level.


CONCLUSIONS
Olfactory loss in chronic sinonasal diseases was found to be associated with anxiety and depression symptoms. Moreover, anxiety was correlated with depression. With regard to patients' demographics, female gender and low socioeconomic status proved to be independently correlated with anxiety and depression levels.
Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece.
Michael
M
Katotomichelakis
Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece.
Efthimios
E
Simopoulos
Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece.
Anthimos
A
Tzikos
Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece.
Dimitrios
D
Balatsouras
Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece.
Gregory
G
Tripsianis
Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece.
Gerasimos
G
Danielides
South London and Maudlsey NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
Kiriakos
K
Xenitidis
Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece.
Miltos
M
Livaditis
Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece.
Vassilios
V
Danielides
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000857:Olfaction Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
anxiety; chronic rhinosinusitis; demographics; depression; olfactory loss