CHILDHOOD ASTHMA COMPLICATED BY ANXIETY - AN APPLICATION OF COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL THERAPY

Objective: To identify characteristics within the patient and the envi ronment that might be instrumental in triggering and maintaining an ep isode of asthma in children whose objective lung function tests sugges ted a less severe exacerbation than the subjective report and behaviou r indicated, and also to investigate the efficacy of a cognitive behav ioural intervention, using the paradigm of a panic anxiety disorder. M ethodology: A retrospective investigation of 23 case records and psych osocial histories, focusing on the characteristics of the sample and t he number of presentations and admissions before and after the interve ntion, which is described. Results: Children aged 10-12 years predomin ated. A precipitating event triggered a fear that their condition had deteriorated in the context of a growing understanding that asthma in a child could be fatal. A reduction in presentations and admissions po st-intervention is shown. Conclusions: The paradigm of panic disorder is useful to understand the sudden onset of apparent deterioration in the severity of asthma when objective lung function tests do not suppo rt the subjective experience.