Mental Health and Asthma Comorbidity
Summary
Mental health and asthma frequently co-occur, imposing a substantial burden on individuals and healthcare systems worldwide. Anxiety and depression are especially prevalent among people with asthma, ranging from mild distress to clinically significant disorders. Evidence suggests a bidirectional association: chronic respiratory symptoms and the stress of disease management can precipitate mood disturbances, while psychological distress may exacerbate airway inflammation and symptom perception through neuroendocrine and immunological mechanisms. Systemic inflammation, altered cytokine profiles and dysregulation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis have emerged as potential shared pathways. Comorbid mental health conditions are linked with poorer asthma control, reduced adherence to therapy and impaired quality of life. Greater awareness of this interplay has spurred multidisciplinary approaches that integrate psychological assessment and intervention into respiratory care, aiming to improve outcomes and reduce global health disparities.
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Mental Health and Asthma Comorbidity publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in mental health and asthma comorbidity across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Comorbidity: The simultaneous presence of two or more medical conditions in an individual, such as asthma and mental health disorders.
Cytokine: A small protein involved in cell signalling that modulates immune and inflammatory responses.
Dyspnoea: Difficulty or laboured breathing experienced by patients with respiratory conditions.
Dysfunctional breathing: Abnormal breathing patterns that can exacerbate respiratory and psychological symptoms.
References
- The role of inflammation in anxiety and depression in the European U-BIOPRED asthma cohorts. Brain Behavior and Immunity (2023).
- Asthma and anxiety development in Australian children and adolescents. Pediatric Allergy and Immunology (2023).
- Associations of symptoms of anxiety and depression with health-status, asthma control, dyspnoea, dysfunction breathing and obesity in people with severe asthma. Respiratory Research (2022).
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