Abstract-Stress, unpleasant emotions and autonomic imbalance may play a main role in precipitating asthmatic attacks. In this study two homogeneous groups of asthmatic patients (N = 24) are treated over an eight-month period. The experimental group was treated with autogenic therapy and the control group with supportive group psychotherapy. Respiratory function parameters measured were Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), Forced Expiratory Volume in the first sec (FEV I), Forced Expiratory Flow between 25% and 75% of the FVC (FEF25-75%). and Mesoexpiratory Flow (MEF50%). The group under Autogenic Therapy obtained a relevant clinical improvement (> 15% of pretreatment values) in respiratory function. No significant changes were observed in the control group. These results suggest that autogenic therapy could be an effective adjunctive treatment in bronchial asthma.
SummaryThe psychopathological profile in a sample of 43 adult chronic asthmatic outpatients is analyzed. The SCL-90-R Self-Report Questionnaire was applied. The symptomatic profile in our sample is characterized by a main elevation of the dimension of somatization (1.80) followed by the areas of depression (1.64), obsession-compulsion (1.53) and anxiety (1.45). These dimensions contribute to the leading features of psychopathology in our patients.
Introduction:Although asthma has been one of the most investigated topics in psychosomatics, studies and papers on psychopathology in asthma are fairly scarce and of diverse meaning. Furthermore, psychopathology acoording to sex in asthma is not a common research topic.Aim This study aims at analyzing psychopathology sex differences in asthmatics.Methods:The psychopathology profile in a sample of 84 adult asthmatics in a hospital outpatient facility, mean age 34.62 (s.d.12.78), 36 male / 48 female, is studied. The Symptom Checklist-90-R (SCL-90-R) Self-Report Questionnaire was administered.Results:The symptomatic profile is characterized by higher scores in women, with a main elevation in the dimensions of Somatization (1.92), Depression (1.66), Obsession-Compulsion (1.62) and Anxiety (1.44) whereas lower scores are recorded in men, with a profile dominated by Hostility (1.70), Anxiety (1.68), Interpersonal Sensitivity (1.58) and Depression (1.44). These scores mainly contribute to the psychopathology pattern according to sex.Conclusions:The possible clinical implications of the observed psychopathology sex differences should be taken into account in the management of these patients.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.