Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for anxiety triggered and exacerbated asthma in children

£6,170 | United Bristol Healthcare NHS Trust
September 2006 - March 2009

Aims: A respiratory nurse specialist will undertake these sessions in the asthma clinics with children aged between 7-16 years. The aim is to reduce anxiety, improve quality of life and reduce medication and emergency episodes.

Status: Having obtained ethical approval, the project commenced in September 2006. Protocols have been written, training given to the respiratory nurse specialist and the sessions have commenced.

Outcomes: The programme was beneficial to children who completed it as demonstrated by the reduction in anxiety scores and the improvement in asthma quality of life scores.  The programme required a significant degree of commitment and there was considerable work to be done at home.  Children and parents who engaged with the study and followed the programme closely reported that they felt it had been beneficial.  Other families who were less willing to engage dropped out early in the programme.  In the majority of these families this was generally anticipated as lack of engagement was clear from the screening clinic visit or during the first session. 

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