Abstract
The perception of respiratory symptoms in asthmatic subjects as well as their exacerbation onto veritable attacks may be related to psychosocial conditions. Asthmatic symptoms may especially be maintained by the vegetative lability in children with emotional disorders. The aim of the present study was to show whether the course of asthma in such children can be influenced by psychotherapy. Eleven emotionally disturbed (DSM IIIR) children with insufficiently controlled asthma underwent individual psychotherapy for 3-12 months. As control group 15 children from a previous study were taken. There was no difference in age, sex, allergies, lung function, and initial drug use between the two groups. The lung function testing was performed at months 0, 3, 6, 9, and 12. Thoracic gas volume (TGV), airway resistance (Raw), forced expiratory volume (FEV1) and maximal expiratory flow at 50 % vital capacity (MEF50) were measured. Whereas pulmonary hyperinflation (TGV) decreased in both groups (p< 0.01), significant improvement of airway function (FEV1: p < 0.05; MEF50: p < 0.05) was only observed in the study group. Also drug consumption and hospital admissions were significantly reduced in the study group. It is concluded, that psychotherapy can improve the course of the somatic disease in some asthmatic children with emotional disorders.
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