| Abstract: | The relationship between certain psychological and allergic variables in childhood asthma was studied. The prediction was that across patients of equal illness severity, an inverse relationship would be observed between measures of the involvement of emotional symptom precipitants and of allergic factors. This relationship failed to emerge at a statistically significant level when the index of emotional precipitants included only such things as worry, anger, upset, excitement, etc. and excluded emotionally toned “respiratory behaviors” such as crying or laughing. When crying was included in the index of emotional precipitants, the prediction was clearly supported. These findings were discussed in terms of their bearing on what is meant by the involvement of psychological factors in asthma, and a broader conceptual scheme was suggested. A clinical implication of the findings and certain methodological considerations was also discussed. |
