Illness-specific catastrophic thinking and overperception in asthma.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigated the role of illness-specific catastrophic thinking in symptom perception in asthma.


METHODS
A total sample of 72 patients with intermittent to moderate persistent asthma completed the Catastrophizing about Asthma Scale and completed the Asthma Symptom Checklist to measure retrospective symptom reporting. In addition, symptoms were concurrently assessed during different respiratory challenges eliciting mild and ambiguous versus salient and pronounced symptoms.


RESULTS
Catastrophic thinking in general, when patients are not having an exacerbation, is related to an increase in emotional symptoms, especially in ambiguous situations where respiratory difficulties could occur. Catastrophic thinking during exacerbations is related to an increase in emotional symptoms as well as in respiratory symptoms during respiratory challenges.


CONCLUSIONS
These strong relationships between catastrophic thinking and increased perception of asthma symptoms suggest a link between illness-specific catastrophic thinking and overperception. Consequently, catastrophic thoughts are an important target for psychological interventions in support of drug treatment.
De Peuter
Steven
S
Department of Psychology, Research Group Health Psychology, Leuven, Belgium. Steven.Depeuter@psy.kuleuven.be
Lemaigre
Valentine
V
Van Diest
Ilse
I
Van den Bergh
Omer
O
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety; D001249:Asthma / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D001530:Belgium; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013850:Thinking