Assessment of psychological symptom burden using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale in different allergic disease groups

Year 2026, Volume: 8 Issue: 2, 311 - 318, 10.03.2026

Selma Yeşilkaya

https://doi.org/10.38053/acmj.1860417

https://izlik.org/JA62GU29KP

Abstract

Aims: The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of anxiety and depression in patients attending the Immunology and Allergy outpatient clinic using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and to examine the differences between different disease groups.
Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in December 2025 at the Immunology and Allergy Outpatient Clinic of Samsun Training and Research Hospital. A total of 215 patients aged 18 years and older were included in the study. The patients' demographic characteristics were recorded, and the HADS was administered. For both subscales, scores of 0-7 were considered normal, 8-10 were considered borderline, and 11-21 were considered abnormal.
Results: 61.40% of patients were female, with a median age of 42 (27-56) years. The most common diagnoses were allergic rhinitis (29.77%), chronic urticaria (28.84%), and asthma (19.53%). 24.65% of patients showed borderline anxiety, 25.12% showed abnormal anxiety; 17.21% showed borderline depression, and 13.95% showed abnormal depression. The depression score was significantly higher in the chronic urticaria group compared to the allergic rhinitis group (p=0.023). No difference was found between the diagnosis groups in terms of anxiety scores (p=0.369). The anxiety rate was significantly higher in females than in males (p<0.001).
Conclusion: Symptoms of anxiety and depression are frequently observed in allergic diseases. The high rate of depression, particularly in patients with chronic urticaria, suggests that clinicians should be vigilant for psychological distress in this patient group.

Keywords

Allergic diseases , anxiety , depression , hospital anxiety and depression scale , chronic urticaria

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