Research on Depression in Children with Severe Bronchial Asthma: The Impact of Alexithymia and Somatic Symptoms

Objective: The prevalence of depression in children with severe bronchial asthma is a significant concern due to its potential effects on illness burden and quality of life. This crosssectional study aims to explore the relationship between depression and severe bronchial asthma in children, focusing on the impact of alexithymia and somatic symptoms.

Methods: The study includes a total of 186 children aged 6-14 years diagnosed with severe bronchial asthma between 2008 and 2022 in our institute. Alexithymia was assessed using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale—20 items (TAS-20). Somatization symptoms were measured using the children's somatization inventory (CSI). The Hamilton depression scale (HAMD) was used to evaluate depression. Spearman correlation analysis was used to describe the correlation between alexithymia, somatization symptoms, and depression.

Results: Children with bronchial asthma are found to have a significantly higher prevalence of depression, estimated to be around 16.67%. Approximately 98.92% of children exhibit varying degrees of somatic symptoms. Approximately 3.23% of children have alexithymia. The Spearman correlation analysis revealed that somatic symptoms and alexithymia were positive correlated with the depression. The correlation coefficients were 0.986 and 0.981 (P < .01), respectively. moreover, according to the results of multiple linear regression analysis, somatization symptoms and alexithymia significantly affects depression in children with severe bronchitis asthma (P < .01).

Conclusion: These findings suggest that children with severe bronchial asthma experience a higher prevalence of depression, impacting their overall quality of life. In addition, the presence of somatic symptoms is prevalent among these children, further contributing to the burden on their quality of life. Moreover, somatization symptoms and alexithymia have been identified as a significant factor positive affecting depression in this population. Addressing these factors in clinical interventions may be beneficial for improving the overall well-being in this population.

Cite this article as: Shen D, Lin L, Fan Y, Zhan L, Dong C. Research on depression in children with severe bronchial asthma: the impact of alexithymia and somatic symptoms. Alpha Psychiatry. 2024;25(3): 362-368.