Psychosomatic Medicine 1:203-244 (1939)
© 1939 American Psychosomatic Society

A Psychiatric Survey of Fifty Cases of Bronchial Asthma

Fifty cases of bronchial asthma were taken from the allergy clinic without selection and were studied psychiatrically by means of one or two interviews.

Thirty-seven of the 50 cases seemed to have an emotional component in their asthmatic attacks.

The thirteen "non-emotional" patients were predominantly young males.

Twenty patients reported that the first attack was emotionally precipitated.

Thirty-one reported that later attacks were often emotionally precipitated.

Thirty patients showed neurotic traits (other than asthmatic) usually of a compulsive character.

Only 20 per cent of the "emotional group" were benefited by somatic therapy, while 54 per cent of the "non-emotional group" were benefited. Likewise in the "neurotic group" only about 20 per cent were helped by drugs and biological products, while 50 per cent of the "non-neurotic group" were helped.

Note:

From the Psychiatric Department of the Massachusetts General Hospital and the Department of Neuropathology of the Harvard Medical School.