New links between chronic rhinosinusitis, depression established

Washington, Oct 8 (ANI): Depression can be a common result of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), according to a new research.

The study has been presented at the 2009 American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF) Annual Meeting and OTO EXPO, in San Diego, CA.

However, scientists say of CRS patients with depression often go under reported.

The authors of the study monitored 73 patients and found only 9.6 percent of them had histories of depression.

Researchers used the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 to conclude that over 20 percent patients had a major depressive disorder. The disease-related and the general health-related quality of life (QOL) in these patients was much lower than those who had no depression.

Furthermore, patients with both depression and CRS had significantly low QOL scores, including bodily pain, and physical and social functioning.

The research team suggests that doctors must screen their patients for both CRS and depression if treatment has to be more effective. (ANI)