[The psychological aspects of asthma in childhood].
OBJECTIVE
The hypothesis of an emotional component in asthma has been put forward since antiquity. It is currently explored using a psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioural and systemic-relational approach. This study, carried out using a psychodynamic approach, aimed to identify the psychological aspects of recurrent asthmatic attacks in childhood.


METHODS
The study examined 20 subjects, aged between 9 months and 7 years and 11 months, attending the Pneumological Division of the Ospedale Infantile in Turin. The study consisted of the collection of social and personal data regarding the family and clinical and medical history; a semi-structured interview with the mothers, discussed as part of individual supervision regarding the mother-child relationship and the emotive reactions to an asthma attack.


RESULTS
Although all subjects had an early onset of manifest asthma, ascertained allergic pathogenesis was only revealed in 30% of children. All cases revealed a lacking and/or conflictual quality in the mother-child relationship, as well as the young patient's difficulty in growing up, implying the acquisition of gradual autonomy.


CONCLUSIONS
The authors emphasise the need to focus greater attention on the emotive situation of the child and its parents, in particular those aspects regarding the quality of life under the influence of disease.
Dipartimento di Scienze Pediatriche e dell'Adolescenza, Università degli Studi, Torino.
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D001249:Asthma / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007406:Interview, Psychological / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D012008:Recurrence