Risk of developing major depression and bipolar disorder among adolescents with atopic diseases: A nationwide longitudinal study in Taiwan.
Previous studies have found an increased prevalence of atopic diseases among patients with major depression and bipolar disorder. But the temporal association between atopic diseases in adolescence and the subsequent risk of developing mood disorders has been rarely investigated.



Using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Databases, 5075 adolescents with atopic diseases (atopic cohort) and 44,729 without (non-atopic cohort) aged between 10 and 17 in 2000 were enrolled into our study and followed to the end of 2010. Subjects who developed major depression or bipolar disorder during the follow-up were identified.



The atopic cohort had an increased risk of developing major depression (HR: 2.45, 95% CI: 1.93~3.11) and bipolar disorder (HR: 2.51, 95% CI: 1.71~3.67) compared to the non-atopic cohort, with a dose-dependent relationship between having a greater number of atopic comorbidities and a greater likelihood of major depression (1 atopic disease: HR: 1.80, 95% CI: 1.29~2.50; 2 atopic comorbidities: HR: 2.42, 95% CI: 1.93~3.04;≥3 atopic comorbidities: HR: 3.79, 95% CI: 3.05~4.72) and bipolar disorder (HR: 1.40, 95% CI: 0.57~3.44; HR: 2.81, 95% CI: 1.68~4.68; HR: 3.02, 95% CI: 1.69~5.38).



Having atopic diseases in adolescence increased the risk of developing major depression and bipolar disorder in later life. Further studies may be required to clarify the underlying mechanism between atopy and mood disorders, and to investigate whether prompt intervention may decrease the risk of subsequent mood disorders.
Division of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan; Division of Psychiatry, Kunming Branch, Taipei City Hospital, Taiwan.
Han-Ting
HT
Wei
Division of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan; Division of Psychiatry, Taipei Municipal Gan-Dau Hospital, Taiwan.
Wen-Hsuan
WH
Lan
Division of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Ju-Wei
JW
Hsu
Division of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Kai-Lin
KL
Huang
Division of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Tung-Ping
TP
Su
Division of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Cheng-Ta
CT
Li
Division of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Wei-Chen
WC
Lin
Department of Family Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Hospital and Health Care Administration, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Tzeng-Ji
TJ
Chen
Division of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: ymbi@mail2000.com.tw.
Ya-Mei
YM
Bai
Division of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: kremer7119@gmail.com.
Mu-Hong
MH
Chen
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D015897:Comorbidity; D016208:Databases, Factual; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D009313:National Health Programs; D012307:Risk Factors; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology
Adolescence; Atopic diseases; Bipolar disorder; Major depression