OBJECTIVETo study the correlation between the temperament dimension and the stress reaction in children with bronchial asthma.

METHODSBetween February 2008 and May 2010, two hundred and twenty children with bronchial asthma and aged from 3-7 years were enrolled (asthma group). Eighty children without asthma, respiratory tract infections, serious body diseases and mental disorders who were age- and gender-matched to the asthma group served as the control group. The Carry temperament rating scales were filled by the children's parents from the asthma and control groups. The serum levels of cortisol at 8am and 4pm and nerve growth factor (NGF) were measured by immunochemiluminescent assays.

RESULTSThe scores of the rhythmicity and persistence in temperament dimensions in the asthma group were significantly lower than those in the control group; in contrast, the scores of phobotaxis, response intensity, emotion entity, adaptability and attention dispersion in the asthma group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). The levels of serum cortisol at 8am and 4pm were lower, while the serum level of NGF was higher in the asthma group than those in the control group (P<0.05). The scores of response intensity, emotion entity and adaptability in temperament dimensions were positively correlated with serum NGF level (r=0.348,0.468,0.195, respectively; P<0.05), and inversely correlated with serum cortisol level at 8 am (r=-0.297, -0.462, -0.152, respectively; P<0.05) in the asthma group.

CONCLUSIONSThe temperament dimension is associated with the stress reaction in children with bronchial asthma. This provides a basis for the treatment of bronchial asthma by neuropsychological adjustment.