Comorbidity of bipolar disorder and allergic rhinitis: current status, mechanisms, and treatment strategies

Bipolar disorder is a severe mental illness, while allergic rhinitis is a common allergic disease. Both are common diseases that significantly affect patients' quality of life. Previous epidemiological studies have suggested a high comorbidity rate between the two, but the underlying mechanism of their association remains unclear. They may share a dynamic pathophysiological network composed of multiple factors interacting with each other, with potential mechanisms involving immunoinflammation, neuroendocrine regulation, sleep disorders, and environmental factors. This article delves into the connection between them from two aspects: epidemiology and comorbidity mechanism, aiming to deepen clinicians' understanding of comorbidity between the two. The article also analyzes the integrated treatment management strategies for comorbidity of bipolar disorder and allergic rhinitis, suggesting the need for a multidimensional and multidisciplinary integrated strategy based on shared pathological mechanisms, establishing an interdisciplinary collaboration model for early identification and comprehensive assessment of patients. For pharmacological treatment of such patients, priority should be given to drugs with both mood stabilizing and potential anti-inflammatory effects (such as some atypical antipsychotics), and the rational use of first-line drugs for allergic rhinitis (such as nasal steroids) should be emphasized. Attention should also be paid to adverse drug reactions, while psychological intervention, sleep intervention, and lifestyle intervention are of great significance in the long-term management of patients.