Asthma is a common disease whose morbidity and mortality are rapidly increasing.
Panic disorder is common in
asthma. Panic, other negative emotions, and a passive coping orientation may affect
asthma by producing
hyperventilation, increased general autonomic lability, a specific pattern of autonomic arousal that may cause bronchoconstriction, and/or detrimental effects on health care behaviors. Generalized panic is a risk factor for increased
asthma morbidity. A repressive coping style also appears to be a risk factor for
asthma morbidity because it is accompanied by an impaired ability to perceive symptoms, a necessary prerequisite for taking appropriate remediation. Several self-regulation strategies are hypothesized to be useful adjuncts to
asthma treatment. Preliminary research has been done on
relaxation therapy, EMG
biofeedback,
biofeedback for improved sensitivity in perceiving respiratory sensations, and
biofeedback training for increasing respiratory sinus arrhythmia. It is hypothesized that finger temperature
biofeedback also may be a promising treatment method, and that relaxation-oriented methods will have their greatest effect among asthmatics who experience panic symptoms, while improved perceptual sensitivity will be helpful both for patients who panic and those with repressive coping styles.