Psychiatric disorders among asthmatic patients: Literature review

Abstract

Introduction

Asthma is a major public health problem and its prevalence has increased in both developed and developing countries during the last few years. Once it is a chronic illness, it has also revealed psychological consequences. Moreover, recent studies have suggested an association between asthma (especially of severe grade) and mental disorders.

Objectives

The authors pretend to make a brief review concerning psychiatric disorders among asthmatic patients.

Aims

To understand and to be able to deal with the psychiatric disorders among chronic asthmatic patients.

Methods

The review was based on scientific documentation published in PubMed database, using the following terms as keywords: “asthma”, “depression”, “anxiety” and “panic disorder”.

Results

Compared to the general population, both anxiety and mood disorders rates are at least two times those observed in asthmatic patients. Moreover, certain psychiatric disorders rates, including panic disorder (PD) and major depressive disorder, are as much as six times more prevalent among asthmatics when compared to the general population. The association between psychiatric disorders and poor asthma control and asthma-related quality of life could occur through several pathways, such as behavioural pathways; cognitive or perceptual pathways; or through the direct physiological effects of depression and anxiety on the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and immune systems which increase asthma symptomatology.

Discussions/Conclusions

There is a close correlation between anxiety, PD and depression, and a poor controlled asthma. A better understanding of this association may have major clinical implications, mainly in patients with poor controlled asthma in whom the presence of anxiety and depression should be investigated.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.