title: Psychological stress and its relationship with persistent allergic rhinitis.
abstract: Allergic rhinitis is considered to be a major health problem that impairs quality of life. A possible relationship with psychological stress may exist. The aim of this study is to verify the relationship between persistent allergic rhinitis (PAR) and psychological stress aiming to improve treatment and thereby quality of life (QOL) of patients. Patients with PAR (166) were diagnosed then analyzed using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale. Patients with allergic rhinitis and who were positive on the Kessler scale (122) were randomly divided equally into a control group which received levocetirizine and a study group which received levocetirizine and imipramine. Nasal symptom assessment and QOL assessment were performed in all patients after treatment. Of the 166 patients with PAR, 122 (73.5 %) were positive on the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale. There was a marked improvement in the study group compared with the control group as regards nasal symptoms with better QOL in the study group (6.93) compared with the control group (2.13). Psychological stress has a strong impact on persistent allergic rhinitis. When stress is controlled by a combined treatment of imipramine and levocetirizine, allergic rhinitis symptoms improved and a better QOL was obtained.
  
  
  METHODS
  3b.
authors.affiliation: Otolaryngology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt.
authors.forename: Diaa El Din Mohamed
authors.initials: Del D
authors.lastname: El Hennawi
authors.affiliation: Otolaryngology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt. m_rifaat@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Mohamed Rifaat
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: Otolaryngology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt.
authors.forename: Alaa Mohamed
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Farid
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017332:Cetirizine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D039563:Histamine H1 Antagonists, Non-Sedating / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007099:Imipramine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D011580:Psychological Techniques; D011788:Quality of Life; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D063189:Symptom Assessment / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D039563:Histamine H1 Antagonists, Non-Sedating; C472067:levocetirizine; D007099:Imipramine; D017332:Cetirizine
keywords: Allergic rhinitis; Levocetirizine; Psychological stress; Quality of life