title: Asthma and menstruation: the relationship between psychological and bronchial hyperreactivity.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate a possible interrelation between bronchial hyperreactivity and psychological hyperreactivity. In order to record changes in both bronchial and psychological reactions throughout the menstrual cycle, 10 women out-patients with moderate asthma were followed up for six months, and their physical and psychological status as well as their reactions to life-events and environmental influences were assessed through self-reporting measures and weekly psychotherapeutic sessions. Psychotherapy was used both as a supplement to the medical treatment and as a method of data collection. A relationship between lowered resistance to stress, lowered resistance to infections and increased bronchial hyperreactivity is suggested as background aetiological factors for the exacerbation of asthma around menstruation.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Mirdal
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Petersson
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Weeke
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vibits
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001143:Arousal; D001249:Asthma / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008598:Menstruation / Q000523:psychology*; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011293:Premenstrual Syndrome / Q000523:psychology; D012307:Risk Factors