ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to explore relationships between perennial allergic rhinitis and personality in a nonpsychiatric female population of proven allergic status. In the first part of this report, female subjects were assigned to the allergic (N=22) or nonallergic group (N=8) on the basis of skin prick test and self-reported allergic status. Analysis of MMPI profiles showed that allergic subjects scored significantly higher on the Hs (Hypochondriasis) (F [1, 37]=5.17, p=0.029) and Si (Social Introversion) scales (F[1.37]=4.51, p=0.040) although these values did not reach clinical significance. In the second part, the items from the Hs and Si scales which discriminated allergic from nonallergic subjects were used to construct a female Allergic Rhinitis (AR) scale. The resulting 19 item scale discriminated with 100% accuracy between allergic and nonallergic females (α=0.84). A second group of 31 allergic and 21 nonallergic females was recruited to validate the AR Scale. The AR Scale appears to be a valid, reliable pen-and-paper test which classifies females as allergic or nonallergic with a high degree of accuracy. It is anticipated that the scale may become a useful tool for researchers in allergy.
