Family assessment of the child with intractable asthma

The psychosocial assessment of the child with bronchial asthma is a complex and often confusing process. An indispensable component in this process is the assessment of the child's family; however, without a comprehensive conceptual schema and practical guidelines for conducting the assessment, conclusions are often tentative and lacking in clinical utility. An assessment format is offered to help in addressing these needs. The proposed interview structure includes a progression of stages as well as specific content areas that it is necessary to explore in order for the clinician to thoroughly understand the dynamic relationship between the asthmatic child and his family context.