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Bronchial asthma with psychogenic trigger
I B Iamandescu1, Alexandra Mihăilescu
1Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Colentina Hospital, Clinic of Allergology, Bucharest, Romania. iamandb@yahoo.com
Summary
Psychological factors can trigger bronchial asthma attacks but are not the sole cause. This study identifies psychogenic triggers in many asthma patients, particularly those with severe or corticodependent disease.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonology
- Psychosomatic Medicine
- Allergology
Background:
- Historically, purely psychogenic bronchial asthma was considered a distinct entity.
- Current research suggests psychological stimuli are triggers, not exclusive etiological factors.
- Psychogenic factors are increasingly recognized as contributing to asthma exacerbations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of asthma with psychogenic triggering.
- To identify the somatic and psychological background associated with psychogenically triggered asthma.
- To differentiate psychogenic triggers from other etiological agents in bronchial asthma.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of personal studies and published data on bronchial asthma.
- Clinical observation of hospitalized and outpatient asthma patients.
- Evaluation of patient response to various treatments, including psychotherapy and corticoids.
Main Results:
- Psychological stimuli trigger asthma attacks in a significant percentage of patients (62.5% hospitalized, 30% outpatient).
- Corticodependent asthma shows the highest prevalence of psychogenic triggers (86%).
- Key characteristics include stress vulnerability, diminished cortisol response, bronchodilator reversibility, aspirin sensitivity, endocrine dysfunction, and multifactorial triggers.
Conclusions:
- Bronchial asthma is rarely purely psychogenic; psychological factors act as additional triggers.
- Identifying psychogenic triggers is crucial for understanding disease severity and evolution.
- Treatment failure may indicate underlying chronic inflammation from non-psychological etiological agents.
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