Cited by 85Asthma and respiratory diseasesPsychosomatic Disorders and Their TreatmentsAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes

The asthma-anxiety connection

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Del Giacco, Stefano R., Cappai, Alessandra, Gambula, Luisanna, Cabras, Stefano, Perra, Silvia, Manconi, Paolo Emilio, Carpiniello, Bernardo, Pinna, Federica·2016·Respiratory Medicine

Abstract

Background The literature reports a significant association between various mental disorders and asthma, in particular depression and/or anxiety, with some more robust data regarding anxiety disorders. However, the nature of this association remains largely unclear. Objectives (1) To test the hypothesis of a specific association of anxiety and depressive disorder (according to the DSM-IV) with asthma and (2) to test the bidirectional hypothesis of causality between asthma and psychiatric disorders. Methods Ninety-six adults were compared with 96 control subjects matched according to main socio-demographic variables (i.e., gender, age, marital status, cohabiting/non-cohabiting, and BMI). Subjects with asthma were divided according to GINA and ACT classifications. All subjects underwent Structured Clinical Interviews for DSM-IV Axis I (SCID-I) diagnosis. Results Significant association between asthma and lifetime anxiety disorders emerged (OR 3.03; p = 0.003); no significant association with other psychiatric diagnosis emerged. Moreover, lifetime and current anxiety were associated with asthma severity levels (p < 0.01 and p = 0.001 based on age). Asthma preceded anxiety in 48% of cases; in 52% of cases, anxiety preceded asthma, without significant group differences. The risk of asthma, particularly of severe, uncontrolled forms (p < 0.01), resulted higher in lifetime anxiety disorder patients (p = 0.003 and p = 0.001 based on age at onset). Current anxiety increased the risk of asthma, and that of an uncontrolled form (p < 0.05). Asthma increased the risk of lifetime anxiety disorders (p = 0.002 and p = 0.018 using ages). Intermittent asthma increased the risk of lifetime and current anxiety disorders (p < 0.01). Conclusions Anxiety disorders, in particular Lifetime Anxiety Disorders, represent the only psychiatric disorder significantly associated with asthma, with a possible bidirectional, anxiety-asthma relationship, each of which can be caused or result from the other.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.rmed.2016.09.014

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  1. M.B.S. First, R.L. Spitzer, M. Gibbon, J.B.W. Williams, Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders, Clinician Version (SCID-CV), American Psychiatric Press, Inc., Washington, D.C., USA, 1996.
  2. D.S. Moore, G.P. McCabe, W.M. Duckworth, S.L. Sclove, Bootstrap methods and permutation tests, in: D.S. Moore, G.P. McCabe, W.M. Duckworth, S.L. Sclove (Eds.), The Practice of Business Statistics Companion, W.H. Freeman, 2003.

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Authors
Del Giacco, S. R., Cappai, A., Gambula, L., Cabras, S., Perra, S., Manconi, P. E., Carpiniello, B., & Pinna, F.
Affiliations
  • South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (GB)
  • University of Cagliari (IT)
Venue
Respiratory Medicine
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2016-11
Volume
120
Pages
44-53
ISSN
0954-6111 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2521785847
Cited by
85
References
120
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 1
FWCI
2.05
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Respiratory Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • e-Archivo (Carlos III University of Madrid) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • UNICA IRIS Institutional Research Information System (University of Cagliari) (submittedVersion)
Funders
Università degli Studi di Cagliari
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Asthma and respiratory diseases
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
Keywords
asthma, anxiety disorders, depression, bidirectional causality, psychiatric comorbidity, asthma severity, uncontrolled asthma, intermittent asthma, psychiatric risk factors
MeSH terms
Adult, Aged, Anxiety Disorders, Asthma, Depressive Disorder, Female, Humans, Italy, Male, Middle Aged, Risk, Severity of Illness Index, Comorbidity, Body Mass Index, Prevalence, Case-Control Studies, Cost of Illness, Young Adult

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