THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NEGATIVE EMOTIONS AND ACUTE SUBJECTIVE AND OBJECTIVE SYMPTOMS OF CHILDHOOD ASTHMA

Background. Children with asthma are vulnerable to negative emotions, but clinical observations and research suggest that negative emotions can also be precipitants of asthma attacks. Empirical data provided mi xed results. The hypothesis was tested that negative emotions influenc e subjective rather than objective symptoms of asthma, breathlessness and airways obstruction, respectively. Methods. Forty asthmatic childr en (aged 7 to 18 years) were randomly assigned to one of four experime ntal conditions: 1, viewing an emotional him of 10 min; 2, performing standardized physical exercise of modest intensity up to a heartbeat o f 170 b/min; 3, combination of conditions, order conditions, 1+2, and 4, combination of conditions, order conditions 2+1. Lung function, bre athlessness and state anxiety were measured pre-test and post-test. Re spiration sounds were recorded continuously for assessment of emotiona l breathing patterns. Results. The data and responses to exit question s, confirmed a successful induction of anxiety via increased state anx iety and respiratory rate. Viewing the emotional film did not by itsel f enhance airways obstruction or breathlessness. Airways obstruction a nd breathlessness increased significantly after exercise only. Signifi cantly more breathlessness was reported when negative emotions precede d exercise. Breathlessness was statistically independent of lung funct ion, severity of asthma, symptoms in the past 4 weeks, anxiety or age. Conclusion. Negative emotions affect subjective, rather than objectiv e symptoms of childhood asthma. It was suggested that children in a ne gative emotional state, uncertain about the condition of their airways , are inclined to interpret exercise-related general sensations (fatig ue, heart pounding, sighing) in line with expectations as symptoms of airways obstruction. Consequently, they may report relatively high bre athlessness, irrespective of actual objective symptoms of asthma.