Psychosomatic Medicine 23:485-492 (1961)
© 1961 American Psychosomatic Society

Respiratory Variables in Response to a Pain-Fear Stimulus and in Experimental Asthma

¹ Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia 4, Penn.

Ventilatory variables and the mechanical properties of the lungs as response to a pain-fear stimulus, electric shock, and in experimental asthma were measured in the guinea pig.

The respiratory pattern after exposure to electric shock was characterized by shortened inspiration and a prolonged expiratory phase. This pattern was similar to that observed in experimental allergic asthma.

The mechanical properties of the lungs, however, were different in the two situations. In experimental allergic asthma in the guinea pig there was evidence of bronchiolar obstruction as measured by an increase in airway resistance and decrease in compliance. No evidence of increased airway resistance was found in the animals exposed to electric shock.

The respiratory pattern after the pain-fear stimulus appeared to be related to screeching of the animals.

The findings of this report suggest that it is important to differentiate the respiratory response to a pain-fear stimulus from that of asthma. Such a distinction is possible if indices of bronchiolar function are considered in the definition of bronchial asthma.

Note:

Fellow Foundations Fund for Research in Psychiatry.

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