Improvement of psychological disorders by spa therapy in patients with asthma

To evaluate improvement of mental disorders by spa therapy for 1-2 months, three kinds of psychological examinations, CMI (Cornel Medical Index), SDS (Selfrating Depression Scale) and CAI (Comprehensive Asthma Inventory) tests, were performed in 37 patients with asthma before and after spa therapy. 1. In CMI test, the scores of physical symptoms, respiratory symptoms, and CIJ symptoms significantly decreased after spa therapy. The score of psychical symptoms tended to decrease after the therapy, however, this was not significant. 2. The mean score of the subjects over 40 points in SDS test significantly decreased from 45.7 points before spa therapy to 37.5 after the therapy. 3. Mental disorders evaluated by various categories in CAI test were significantly improved after spa therapy. The average score in CAI test significantly decreased from 37.1 to 27.8 after the therapy. These results demonstrate that psychological disorders in patients with asthma are improved by spa therapy.

気管支喘息に対する温泉療法(1-2ヶ月)による心理的障害の改善を評価するために,3種類の心理学的調査:CMI(Cornel Medical Index),SDS(Selfrationg Depression Scale),CAI(Comprehensive Asthma Inventory)を,気管支喘息患者37例を対象として,入院時と退院時に実施し比較した｡①CMIでは,身体的自覚症,呼吸器系症状およびCIJ症状が,温泉療法後に有意に改善した｡②SDS値が40以上の症例において,温泉療法後,平均値は45.7から37.5へ有意に減少した｡③CAIの種々の心理学的項目により評価した心理的障害は,温泉療法後に有意に改善した｡各心理項目の平均値であるCAIスコアは,治療後,37.1から27.8へ有意に低下した｡これらの結果から,気管支喘息患者に観察される心理的障害は,温泉療法により改善することが示唆された｡