The Use of Reliever Medication in Asthma: The Role of Negative Mood and Symptom Reports, Journal of Asthma, Informa Healthcare

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The Use of Reliever Medication in Asthma: The Role of Negative Mood and Symptom Reports

2003, Vol. 40, No. 4 , Pages 357-365

Jodie Main, M.Sc.¹, Dr.Rona Moss-Morris, Ph.D.¹ ^†, Roger Booth, Ph.D.², Ad A. Kaptein, Ph.D.⁴ and John Kolbe, M.B.B.S., F.R.A.C.P.³,⁵

¹Health Psychology, The University of Auckland, AucklandNew Zealand

²Department of Molecular Medicine, The University of Auckland, AucklandNew Zealand

³Department of Medicine, The University of Auckland, AucklandNew Zealand

⁴Unit of Psychology, Leiden University Medical Center, LeidenThe Netherlands

⁵Respiratory Services, Greenlane Hospital, AucklandNew Zealand

^†Correspondence: Dr.Rona Moss-Morris, Health Psychology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92 019, Auckland, New Zealand, -64 9 3737 013 r.moss-morris@auckland.ac.nz

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between negative mood, the reporting of asthma symptoms, and the use of short-acting bronchodilators (reliever medication). Forty-two adult asthma patients completed a daily questionnaire over 7 consecutive days. The questionnaire measured negative mood and the number of symptoms patients associated with their asthma. The symptoms included those typical of asthma, as well as nonspecific somatic and distress symptoms. Subjects were also asked to record their daily use of reliever medication and their peak flow values. Data analysis demonstrated that even when controlling for lung function, both asthma symptom labeling and negative mood were related to reliever use. A mediation model suggested that negative mood leads patients to associate a wide range of nonspecific symptoms with their asthma, thereby altering the perception of the severity of the asthma, which in turn influences their use of reliever medication. The results of this study are discussed in relation to asthma self-management strategies.