Asthma Control in Relation to Anxiety and Depression in Asthmatic Children and their Care Givers

Abstract

Patients with asthma, especially children, appear likely to suffer from psychological problems, particularly anxiety and depression . Children with asthma and comorbid psychiatric disorders have more impaired functioning in both emotional and physical arenas than children with either disease alone, with poorer control of asthma and greater health care utilization . This association could occur either through disorganization of self-care behavior or by direct physiological effects of anxiety on the autonomic and immune systems also elevated anxiety and depression have been found to be positively related to asthma severity in children. The aim of the present study was to study anxiety and depression in asthmatic children and their primary caregiver in relation to the degree of asthma control , pulmonary function results and clinical criteria of those patients.