Interference of psychological factors in difficult-to-control asthma.
BACKGROUND
Most patients with asthma can be controlled with suitable medication, but 5-10% of them remain difficult to control despite optimal management.


OBJECTIVE
We investigated whether patients with difficult-to-control asthma (DCA) or controlled asthma (CA) differ with respect to psychological factors, such as general control beliefs on life events.


METHODS
DCA was defined as an absence of control despite optimal management. Recent control was measured using the Asthma Control Questionnaire. General control beliefs were investigated using a Locus of Control scale (LOC).


RESULTS
Patients with DCA had a significantly higher external LOC as compared to patients with CA (P=0.01). In the DCA group, the hospital admission rate was highly significant in association with the external LOC (P=0.004) as compared to the internal LOC trend.


CONCLUSIONS
This study showed that patients with DCA had different general control beliefs which might have hampered their management and interfered with their therapeutic adherence. The present findings could enhance management of DCA in a clinical setting.
Halimi
Laurence
L
Clinique des Maladies Respiratoires, Hôpital Arnaud de Villeneuve, 371 Av du Doyen Gaston Giraud 34295 Montpellier Cedex 5, France. chanez@montp.inserm.fr
Vachier
Isabelle
I
Varrin
Muriel
M
Godard
Philippe
P
Pithon
Gérard
G
Chanez
Pascal
P
D000328:Adult; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D017211:Treatment Failure
D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents