A case of uncontrollable late onset bronchial asthma which responded dramatically to psychosomatic therapy

We reported the case of a 58 year old man who began to have attacks of bronchial asthma 2 years previously. In spite of repeated hospitalization following the first attack, it was not possible to control his attacks effectively because conventional therapy for bronchial asthma was not effective and because he erratically demanded treatment that he desired. Therefore, he was admitted to our department of psychosomatic medicine. We started our psychological treatment after asthma attacks remitted following treatment with theophylline, β₂-stimulant inhalation, minor tranquilizers and the regular administration of beclomethasone dipropionate inhalation. The patient revealed that his wife has died in a traffic accident 6 months before the onset of asthma attacks, and that he was feeling lonely. So we provided opportunities for him to ventilate his feelings. The psychological interview with him also revealed that besides asthma attacks, he often experienced hyperventilation attacks and anxiety attacks and that he was unable to distinguish these attacks one from another. So we educated him to discriminate between these different types of attacks. As a result of these interventions there was a remission of his symptoms. Several psychosocial factors are responsible in most cases of late onset bronchial asthma, therefore, psychosomatic treatment is appropriate for such patients.