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Abstract
Following the study on psychomaintenance of asthma by Kinsman, Dirks, and Jones (1977), we adapted the Battery for Asthma Illness Behavior (BAIB) to children.
Thirty-four children aged 9.3 to 15.4 years were tested with this modified BAIB. They were scored simultaneously on a semistructured psychological interview. Three groups emerged out of these data: low-, medium-, and high-panic-fear personalities.
Patients were also rated with regard to their pulmonary function and clinical status, including medication prescribed. The high-panic-fear personality was significantly associated with a higher intensity of prescribed medication, in particular cor-ticosteroids.
These results were independent of spirometric pulmonary measurements. We conclude that doctors may overreact to the exaggerated distress of high-panic-fear patients. Psychotherapy could be of help for this group.