PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGICAL REACTIVITY IN ASTHMATIC-CHILDREN - A CHOLINERGICALLY MEDIATED CONFLUENCE OF PATHWAYS

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the suitability of a newly developed experimental paradigm, designed to assess relatio nships among emotional responsivity, physiologic (autonomic) reactivit y, airway reactivity, and pulmonary function in asthmatic children und er controlled conditions of ecologically valid emotional stimulation. Method: Twenty-four children, aged 8 through 17, with moderate to seve re asthma viewed the movie, E.T., the Extra-Terrestrial, while having their heart and respiration rate and oxygen saturation continuously me asured and recorded. Airway reactivity was assessed by the methacholin e challenge test, and pre- and postmovie pulmonary function by spirome try. Self-report of emotion was recorded for targeted scenes. Results: Findings indicated that emotional responsivity and physiologic reacti vity to the movie were associated with increased airway reactivity and with decreased pulmonary function. Conclusions: The pattern of result s suggests cholinergically mediated psychophysiologic pathways of emot ional influence in the asthmatic process for some asthmatic children. A heuristic biopsychosocial model of these pathways is presented.