Asthma: Social and Psychological Factors and Psychosomatic Syndromes

The relation between psychiatric disorders and general medical conditions is currently a topic of much interest. This volume includes a broad range of papers dealing with psychosocial issues in the morbidity of asthma, depressive symptoms which appear to be more common in asthma patients than in the general population, the link between asthma and anxiety disorders, or side effects of corticosteroid therapy. Furthermore, one paper looks at problems with adherence to treatment and the interaction between patient and provider and another one presents a model of changing human health behavior. Emotional disturbances contributing to several primarily psychogenic illnesses that mimic asthma are also covered. Each chapter includes an overview of the field for those with minimal knowledge of the topic. This book is written by experts for clinicians, general practitioners, mental health professionals, allergists, pulmonologists, and primary care practitioners involved in treating asthma patients especially with a view to the psychological aspects and their influence on the disease.