Authors: Ritz, Thomas; Kullowatz, Antje

Source: Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews, Volume 1, Number 2, June 2005 , pp. 209-218(10)

Publisher: Bentham Science Publishers

Abstract:

Psychological factors have long been suspected to influence lung function in asthma. While earlier experimental research has demonstrated the susceptibility of the airways to suggestion, only recent studies have investigated the impact of various emotional states and stressful challenge on the airways in health and asthma. We reviewed studies from the last 15 years that have used experimental emotion and stress induction techniques or longitudinal diary observations to explore these influences. Findings suggest that unpleasant emotional states are associated with a decline in lung function in health and asthma. Changes are usually small on average, but usually reach clinical significance in a subset of patients. Pleasant emotional states are also sometimes associated with a lung function decline, suggesting a susceptibility of the airways to arousal in general. From longitudinal studies, more evidence for effects of both pleasant and unpleasant states is available, but also highly idiosyncratic associations between mood, stress, and lung functions were observed. While initial findings indicate the importance of specific autonomic, ventilatory, and immunological pathways for emotion-induced lung function changes, more research is needed on these underlying mechanisms.

Keywords: asthma; stress; emotion; airways; lung function; respiratory resistance

Document Type: Review article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1573398054022993

Affiliations: 1: Psychological Institute III, University of Hamburg, Von-Melle-Park 5, 20146 Hamburg, Germany.

Publication date: 2005-06-01

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• Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews publishes frontier reviews on all the latest advances on respiratory diseases and its related areas e.g. pharmacology, pathogenesis, clinical care, and therapy. The journal's aim is to publish the highest quality review articles dedicated to clinical research in the field. The journal is essential reading for all researchers and clinicians in respiratory medicine.

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