I Allergies Are Nothing to Sneeze At. Part 3. Behavioral Manifestations

We recently discussed the widespread occurrence of allergies and the various means of diagnosing and treating them. 1 Although allergy symptoms are generally associated with physical problems, research shows that behavioral problems such as hyperactivity in children, depression, and possibly even schizophrenia may also be associated with allergy. Part three will focus on behavioral aspects of adverse reactions and allergies to various aspects of our environment. Allergies are abnormal reactions to ordinarily harmless substances and are generally mediated by IgE antibodies. Antibodies are a class of proteins known as immunoglobulins and can be an indication of allergy. IgE antibodies are associated with immediate hypersensitivity allergic reactions. Unlike allergies, adverse reactions may or may not be mediated by the immune system. There are several possible connections between allergy and behavioral problems. Psychologist David S. King, Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute, San Francisco, California, notes that allergy symptoms can be produced or aggravated by psychological factors. Another connection is the detrimental effect of the allergy problem on the psychological state of the allergic individual. And allergy exposure may be directly responsible for both psychological and somatic symptoms. z In a double-bliid study, King examined the psychological changes in 30 allergy patients exposed to various allergens or to a placebo. He found that changes in behavior can be produced in selected individuals by exposure to an alOctober 21.1985 ,–