A Case Series Evaluation of a Pilot Group Cognitive Behavioural Treatment for Children With Asthma and Anxiety

Asthma and anxiety in children and adolescents: characteristics and treatment outcomes

OBJECTIVE

This study (a) examined anxious youth with and without asthma on measures of negative self-talk, parental psychopathology, worry content, physical symptoms, panic symptoms, generalized symptoms, and separation anxiety symptoms, and (b) tested if outpatient CBT or medication were differentially effective in reducing anxiety for youth with asthma and anxiety.

METHODS

This secondary analysis separated youth with an anxiety disorder into asthma and non-asthma groups. Youth were also compared on response to treatments (i.e. CBT, sertraline, combined, and placebo).

RESULTS

A total of 488 participants participated in the original study, with an average age of 10 years (SD 2.87). Youth with comorbid asthma and anxiety demonstrated higher rates of negative self-talk. Youth with comorbid asthma and anxiety did not differ from the non-asthma group on measures of physical symptoms, anxiety disorder specific symptoms, parental psychopathology, or worry content. Youth with asthma and anxiety responded similarly to the non-asthma group to treatment across treatment conditions.

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment was comparably effective for youth with comorbid asthma and anxiety and youth with anxiety. Future research could examine the effects of psychopharmaceuticals on asthma and anxiety comorbidity.

Integrative Review of Programs to Improve Outcomes for Children With Comorbid Asthma and Anxiety/Depressive Symptoms

Asthma is one of the most common pediatric chronic physical conditions. Youth with comorbid asthma and anxiety/depressive symptoms tend to have less controlled asthma and an increased use of health services in schools. The purpose of this integrative review was to examine the literature on educational and behavioral/ cognitive behavioral skills interventions for children with asthma and anxiety/depressive symptoms. Five electronic databases and forward/backward citations were searched. Eleven peer reviewed articles were retained for review. Main findings of the limited evidence suggest that educational and behavioral/cognitive behavioral skills programs may increase asthma knowledge and asthma-related self-efficacy while reducing anxiety/depressive symptoms. One study showed a decrease in use of quick relief inhalers and another had increased adherence to asthma controller medication. The literature indicates that educational and cognitive behavioral skills programs can have a positive impact on children with asthma and symptoms of anxiety/depression. School-based skills programs had better retention than outpatient programs.

Association between asthma and generalized anxiety disorder-7 (GAD-7) in Korean adolescents

BACKGROUND

Asthma is known to be associated with a variety of psychological disorders, such as anxiety, but the association between adolescent asthma and anxiety has not been investigated in detail.

METHODS

We analyzed 2,322 physician-diagnosed adolescent asthma patients and 38,696 non-asthmatic adolescent participants from the 2020 Korean Youth Risk Behavior self-administered Survey. Anxiety status was assessed using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) questionnaires. Multiple logistic regression analyses with complex sampling was performed with adjustments for multiple confounding variables (socioeconomic, health behavior, and psychological factors) to explore the association between GAD-7 scores and adolescent asthma.

RESULTS

The asthma group had higher rates of anxiety (GAD-7 score ≥ 10) than the non-asthma group (5.0% and 6.7%, respectively; p < 0.001). After adjustment for multiple confounders, asthma was significantly associated with an increased risk of anxiety (GAD-7 score ≥ 10) (odds ratio [OR]: 1.09; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.06-1.12).

CONCLUSION

Asthma is associated with an increased prevalence of anxiety in Korean adolescents.