PSYCHOLOGICAL-ASPECTS OF CHILDHOOD ASTHMA AND THE PRACTITIONERS DILEMMA

The article summarizes psychosomatic models of childhood asthma (psych oanalytic, family therapy, and experimental approach). All of them lef t crucial aspects unanswered. Recent discussions rather concentrate on the role psychological aspects play in the course of the illness in t erms of coping-processes. In the same way, the main focus concerning t herapeutic means shifted from psychotherapy to patient education and s elf-management programs. The article explicitly points out that questi ons of high practical relevance still remain poorly investigated and u nanswered: the criteria for a psychological consultation as well as ps ychological problems of the transfer of the family/child to a psycholo gical consultee. Faced with the psychological problems of the families , this paucity of well-established means and criteria may create a dil emma for the practitioner.