Effects of Spa therapy on psychological factors in patients with bronchial asthma

Effects of spa therapy on psychological factors were examined in 15 patients with bronchial asthma (10 females and 5 males, mean age 55.0 years) by CMI (Cornell Medical Index), SDS (Selfrating Depression Scale), CAI (Comprehensive Asthma Inventory) and SD (Semantic Differential). The results of these psychological examinations were compared before and after spa therapy for 1-2 months. 1. In CMI, mean point of physical symptoms decreased from 37.7 before spa therapy to 29.7 after the therapy. Mean improvement rate of the symptoms was 73.3%. The mean improvement rate was observed in 60.0% of respiratory symptoms, 66.7% of CIJ symptoms and 46.7% in psychical symptoms. 2. In SDS, many patients showed more than 40 points, suggesting that they have depressive mental state. The mean point decreased from 42.9 to 40.7 by spa therapy. 3. In CAI, categories of mental state, extent of conditioning, suggestion, fear of expectation, dependency, frustration and flight into illness, were clearly improved by spa therapy. 4. It was shown in SD that character of patients changed with beneficial trend for therapy of asthma after spa therapy. These results suggest that psychological disorders of patients with bronchial asthma are improved by spa therapy.