Characterization and treatment response of anxious children with asthma.
OBJECTIVE
To compare children with Axis I anxiety disorders and asthma with a matched group of anxious children without asthma on questionnaire measures and response to cognitive-behavioural treatment (CBT) for anxiety.


METHODS
A sample of 36 children with comorbid anxiety and asthma, aged 8 to 12 years, were matched for age, sex, and specific anxiety disorder with 36 children with an Axis I anxiety disorder but no asthma. Parents and children completed standardized questionnaires.


RESULTS
Children with comorbid anxiety and asthma had significantly more perinatal complications (P = 0.001), and higher total (P = 0.000) and psychological stressors (P = 0.02), especially parent-child problems (P = 0.01), but lower levels of depression (P = 0.03) and anxiety (P = 0.05), compared with anxious, nonasthmatic children. All children reported decreased anxiety (P = 0.001) and depression (P = 0.000) posttreatment, with a trend toward less improvement in anxiety in anxious children with asthma.


CONCLUSIONS
Although replication is needed, addressing psychosocial stress and parent-child problems may increase CBT efficacy in children with comorbid anxiety and asthma.
Papneja
Tripti
T
University of Toronto, Ontario.
Manassis
Katharina
K
D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D001249:Asthma / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D004493:Education; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications; D016896:Treatment Outcome