Stress Perception of Patients with Extrinsic Type of Bronchial Asthma

외인성 기관지천식환자들의 스트레스지각

Stress perception was investigated in 53 outpatients with extrinsic type of bronchial asthma, using GARS scale and other questionnaires. 40% of the patients were found to be psychosomatic. The patients were more likely to consider their physical symptoms as severe than the allergist Severity of symptoms rated by the allergist had significantly positive correlation with scores of stress perception related to changes in relationship. However, no significant correlation was found between severity of symptoms rated by patients and scores of stress perception. Psychosomatic group was significantly higher in scores of stress perception related to illness and injury, financial burden, and change or no change in routine than non-psychosomatic group. Female. older age, higher education. presence of religion. and presence of psychological stressors at onset and/or aggravation of the illness were found to increase stress perception. These findings indicate ant extrinsic asthmatics an less likely to perceive psychological stress than physical symptoms, and that they are less vulnerable to psychological stressors than patients with other diseases.