EFFECTS OF ALLERGY SEASON ON MOOD AND COGNITIVE FUNCTION

The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of having allergic rea ctions (ie, being in allergy seasons without taking medications) on: ( 1) speed of cognitive processing, (2) psychomotor speed, (3) ability t o sustain attention, (4) verbal learning and memory, and (5) mood Subj ects (ten atopic, eight control) were given a neuropsychologic test an d mood rating battery in an A-B-A design ie, in, out of, and in allerg y seasons. Only atopic subjects exhibited declines in verbal learning, slower decision-making and psychomotor speed on both simple and choic e reaction time tests, and lower positive affect during their allergy seasons in comparison to out of allergy seasons. A topic subjects did not demonstrate declines in ability to sustain attention. Biochemical mechanisms may cause these changes.