title: Are psychiatric disorders associated with worse asthma control and quality of life in asthma patients?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Achieving good asthma control has become the major goal of asthma treatment. Studies have reported a high rate of psychiatric disorders among asthma patients, though the impact of these disorders on asthma control and quality of life remains unexplored. This study evaluated the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in 406 adult asthma patients, and associations between psychiatric status, levels of asthma control, and asthma-related quality of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive asthma patients presenting to the asthma clinic underwent a brief, structured psychiatric interview, completed the Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ) and Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ), and reported the frequency of bronchodilator use in the past week. All patients underwent standard pulmonary function testing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 34% (n=136) of patients had one or more psychiatric diagnosis, including major depression (15%), minor depression (5%), dysthymia (4%), panic disorder (12%), generalized anxiety disorder (5%), and social phobia (4%). Though there were no differences in pulmonary function, patients with versus without psychiatric disorders had worse ACQ and AQLQ scores and reported greater bronchodilator use, independent age, sex and asthma severity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results suggest that psychiatric disorders are prevalent among asthmatics and are associated with worse asthma control and quality of life. Physicians should be aware of the potential risk of poorer asthma control and functional impairment in this population.
authors.affiliation: Research Center, Division of Chest Medicine, Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal, J-3190, 5400 Gouin West, Montreal, Que., Canada H4J 1C5. kimlavoie@crhsc.umontreal.ca
authors.forename: Kim L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Lavoie
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cartier
authors.forename: Manon
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Labrecque
authors.forename: Simon L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Bacon
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lemière
authors.forename: Jean-Luc
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Malo
authors.forename: Guillaume
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lacoste
authors.forename: Silvana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barone
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Verrier
authors.forename: Blaine
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ditto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D001993:Bronchodilator Agents