Psychological Status of Adolescents with Respiratory Allergic Diseases and Their Caregivers

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the psychological status of adolescents with respiratory allergies and their caregivers.\udMaterials and Methods: Child and adolescent psychiatrists evaluated the adolescents’ psychological status using the Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI) and Screen for Child Anxiety-Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED). Psychiatrist evaluated the psychological status of their caregivers using the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D) and the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A).\udResults: Anxiety symptoms were found in 21 of 63 patients. CDI scores were higher in controls than in patients (p=0.03). HAM-D scores were higher in the caregivers of adolescents with allergic rhinitis and comorbid asthma than in those of controls (p=0.025). None of the scores were affected by the severity of asthma and allergic rhinitis, asthma control levels, presence of an asthma attack in the preceding year as well as by pulmonary function tests (p>0.05). Moderate and strong positive correlations were found between SCARED and CDI (r=0.644, p<0.001) and HAM-A and HAM-D scores (r=0.860, p<0.001).\udConclusion: Anxiety symptoms were found in one-third of the patients. HAM-D scores were higher in the caregivers of adolescents with allergic rhinitis and comorbid asthma than in those of controls