PERCEPTIONS OF ASTHMA SEVERITY - THE ROLE OF NEGATIVE AFFECTIVITY

The role of negative affectivity on patients' perceptions of and behav ior during asthma attacks was explored among 47 asthmatic subjects. Pa tients completed 17 to 30 daily questionnaires assessing negative affe ct, asthma perception, additional drug intake, search for medical assi stance, and peak-flow measures of respiratory distress. Asthma percept ions were correlated with negative affect and educational level; the p erception of the asthma severity, but not negative affect, did predict behavior during an attack. The importance of symptom perceptions for the clinical management of chronic asthma is underscored.