Interaction Between Allergic Potential and Psychopathology in Childhood Asthma

Abstract

A sample of 62 asthmatic children was divided into two subgroups on the basis of scores on the Allergic Potential Scale (APS)[long dash]an index of somatic or constitutional predisposition to allergy. The subgroups were compared, together with the associated mothers, on a variety of independent psychological tests and standardized interactional situations. The hypothesis that psychopathological factors would be observed significantly more often in the children identified by low APS scores and [in] their mothers, was supported. It was shown that the two groups were comparable with respect to the degree of severity of asthma and socio-economic level. The results attest to the fruitfulness of seeking subgroups and suggest that a differentiated approach to asthma reconciles some findings in the literature which otherwise appear to be contradictory. The APS may prove useful, not only in other research, but as a guide for differential treatment of asthmatic children.