Psychological factors associated with emergency room visits among asthmatic patients

This study was designed to investigate physiological and psychological char acteristics of subjects with high-frequency emergency room (ER) visits. Ast hma status, psychological functioning and predispositions, psychosocial ada ptation to asthma, and health behaviors were measured for 30 patients who h ad two or more ER visits during the last 2 years. These subjects were match ed for age, sex, and corticosteroid use with 30 subjects who had no unsched uled ER visits for the same period. No significant differences were found f or measures of asthma status. Among the asthma-specific variables, the numb er of hyperventilation-bronchoconstriction symptoms did not distinguish bet ween the groups. High attenders reported more panic-fear symptoms, lower se lf-efficacy, and more perceived interference. There were no differences for measures of anxiety/depression, self-focused attention, or health locus of control. However, these variables were found to be significant predictors of panic-fear symptoms, lower self-efficacy, and more perceived interferenc e.