Psychological Factors in Asthma and Psychoeducational Interventions

This subject is of interest as asthma has increased over the last two decades. Despite therapeutic advances, morbidity and mortality are increasing (Global Initiative for Asthma [GINA], 2010), particularly due to the development of western standards of living, where psychological factors have regained notability (Busse et al., 2000). This brings about a worsening in psychological factors and quality of life which entails high socioeconomic costs (direct and indirect) (Sulivan 1996; Suissa 2000). Since the most remote times of medical history (Maimonides 1990, Alexander 1940, Dunbar 1948), it has been possible to determine a connection between asthma and emotional factors. In this study, besides the epidemiological aspects and the determinant psychopathological issues of this illness, some of the main psychological factors that influence and are influenced by this complex illness are reviewed in a multidimensional systemic vision (Gregerson, 2000; Jasnoski et al., 1994; Dirks et al., 1978). Parallel to the importance given to biological factors, social and physical variables have also been enhanced, as have conditionings brought about by stress, which intervene and condition psychoneuroimmunohormonal mechanisms in the evolution of the illness (Goodwin & Eaton, 2003). In the most severe cases of asthma, psychological factors such as depression, anxiety, stress, psychopathology, psychiatric expression of asthma and side effects of medication will be implicated. In this context, the coping mechanisms involved, as well as different life events and other psychosocial conditions are of the utmost importance. The transformation of these people’s lives inevitably involves their families, making problem solving difficult, and determining the outcome and the treatment of this pathology (Scott et al., 2007; Fernandes et al., 2010; Thomas et al., 2011; Di Marco et al., 2011). On the other hand, less adapted behaviours become related to minor compliance in the care of asthma, which leads to the worsening of the symptoms of asthma, causing self-perpetuation mechanisms, with chronically inflammatory processes, pulmonary remodelling and irreversibility in the size of the airways (Rietveld, 2000; Fonseca et al., 2004). Therapeutically, in people with moderate to severe asthma, besides the usual, preventive and pharmacological approaches, it is essential to turn to psychoeducational and