[Internalization disorders in children with asthma].

BACKGROUND

The presence of asthma may increase the risk for internalizing disorders such as major depression and anxiety.

OBJECTIVE

To determine if the diagnosis of asthma in children is associated with other internalizing disorders such as panic disorder, social phobia, separation anxiety, and total anxiety.

METHODS

In this analytical, descriptive and comparative cross sectional study, 144 asthmatic and 144 nonasthmatic patients, with ages between 8 and 17 years, were included. We used the GINA asthma diagnostic criteria. We applied the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale for diagnosis of internalizing disorders.

RESULTS

Asthmatic children had a significant association with panic disorder P 0.001, RP 2.7; with social phobia P 0.026, RP 2.5; with separation anxiety P 0.002, RP 3.3; and with total anxiety P 0.017, RP 2.3. Nonasthmatic children did not have these associations. Asthma severity was intermittent in 36 cases (12.5%), mild persistent in 86 (29.9%) cases, and moderate persistent in 22 (7.6%) cases. We observed no statistically significant relationship between the severity of asthma and the diagnosis of an internalization disorder.

CONCLUSIONS

We observed a meaningful association between asthma and internalizing disorders such as panic disorder, social phobia, separation anxiety and total anxiety in children.