Psychological characteristics associated with the onset and course of asthma in children and adolescents: a systematic review of longitudinal effects

OBJECTIVE: to systematically review all available studies that investigated the longitudinal relationships between the psychological characteristics of children and adolescents suffering from asthma and those of their caregivers, and the onset and course of the asthma. METHODS: relevant studies were identified using Medline, PubMed, and PsychINFO between 1970 and September 2009. RESULTS: twenty studies matching inclusion criteria were reviewed. Six studies focused on child-specific psychological characteristics in relation to the onset and course of asthma. No compelling evidence was found for an association with asthma onset, but there was some evidence that the child's psychological characteristics can contribute to the subsequent course of asthma. Fourteen studies considered the effects of the psychological characteristics of the caregivers. Eleven studies found significant relationships between the psychological problems of caregivers and the subsequent onset and unfavorable course of the asthma in the child. CONCLUSION: in pediatric asthma both the psychological characteristics of the affected children and their caregivers appear to contribute to the course and possibly also to the onset of the condition