THE FAMILY OF THE ASTHMATIC CHILD

The authors report clinical study of 34 asthmatic children between the ages of ten and 15, followed at a specialized outpatient clinic of a large pediatric hospital in Montreal. Evaluation of the children and their families involved the use of clinical scores with inter-rater agreement. The study found strong associations between certain personality traits and an excessive use of medication, and between personality traits and family structure. Regardless of the severity of their asthma, children with high levels of anxiety and dependence were more likely to live with highly cohesive families and to use greater quantities of cortisone than children with better adapted personality structures. Pathological family settings are known to cause more emotional and behaviour problems in children. We suggest there is a reciprocal influence, and we consider the effects on the family of an early childhood disease that is persistent, worrisome, unpredictable, and necessitates repeated hospitalization. Prospective studies of the high-risk subgroups identified in this study could facilitate early intervention for asthmatic children and their families.