ALLERGY


AS THE INCIDENCE OF ALLERGY INCREASES, PIF LOOKS AT THE PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT OF LIVING WITH THE CONSTANT ANxIETY AND WORRY CREATED BY SUCH CONDITIONS…


ALLERGY Mind over matter? A


nyone who lives with an allergy – or who cares for someone who does – will


be very familiar with the distress that allergy can cause. From the itch and attraction-drawing of allergies such as eczema, to the sheer discomfort of others such as hay fever – the itchy eyes, the runny nose, the constant sneezing, the distress caused to patients by allergies is often almost palpable.


In addition to the physical impact of allergy however, there is increasingly strong evidence that allergies of all types – hay fever, eczema, food sensitivities - also have an impact on both the psychological distress levels and on the quality of life of those affected – as well as their families.


The psychological impact can be particularly strong in patients, who have had difficulty in obtaining a definite diagnosis of their allergy, probably because, in addition to the psychological impact of the allergy on the sufferer themselves, there is a secondary impact due to the negative reaction or scepticism of others to their suffering.


12 - PHARMACY IN FOCUS


The powerful effect of the mind on the body has long been recognised. This effect – known as ‘conditioning’ – was first noted in 1889, when the Russian scientist, Ivan Petrovich Pavlov, carried out his famous dog- and-dinner-bell experiment. The experiment involved Pavlov ringing a bell every time he fed his dog. Eventually the dog would begin to salivate at the sound of the bell regardless of whether or not Pavlov was feeding it!


But are the symptoms of allergies such as hay fever simply ‘in the mind’? According to a 2012 study by Paul Marshall, PhD, Director of the Neuropsychology Section at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, they most certainly are not!


Marshall’s study aimed to determine if a connection between hay fever and psychological conditions such as depression and fatigue did actually exist. After studying a wide range of allergy subjects, Marshall concluded that more of them reported mental and motivational fatigue during the


hay fever season, but were not affected by physical fatigue.


In addition to Marshall’s research, two large epidemiological studies also indicated a link between hay fever and depression. In one, of 700 children, who were randomly selected, those with hay fever were found to be twice as likely to experience a major depressive episode in the next few years as opposed to those, who didn’t have hay fever. In the other study – this time with adults – those with hay fever were once again twice as likely to have been diagnosed with depression in the year prior to the study as those, who weren’t hay fever sufferers.


Researchers have hypothesised over the years as to the reasons why hay fever sufferers may experience more negative moods during the hay fever season. One theory is that sufferers will naturally feel mentally depleted due to the physical symptoms of the allergy. Another is that the mental depletion is the result of the sleep loss created by the mental distress, while a third – the one that is favoured by


Marshall and his colleagues – is that hay fever leads to negative mental effects because it is acting directly on the brain.


When it comes to skin conditions, there is no doubt that long-lasting skin reactions have a psychological impact. Psoriasis, eczema and contact dermatitis not only lead to feelings of embarrassment, but also cause sleep disruption (around 80 per cent of sufferers will be affected), with sufferers impacted negatively as discussed with hay fever sufferers above. The fact that 60 per cent of sufferers have reported that their skin condition has impacted negatively on their daily activities is another source of low mood and possible depression.


According to some psychologists, particularly those who have studied eczema at length, the fallout from severely itchy skin in early life can create long-lasting psychological problems. If a child is unwilling to be touched, for example, due to their skin discomfort, this is likely to interfere with normal interaction with others and early relationships.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48