Relationship between psychosocial factors and asthma is analysed. Growing number of epidemiological studies shows high rate of depression and anxiety in patients with asthma. These comorbidities influence quality of life and effectiveness of treatment in asthma patients. Psychosocial factors are deleteriously involved in both the development and prognosis of atopic disorders.

We analyze studies concerning the influence of posttraumatic stress disorder on the development and deterioration of asthma as well as impact of parental stress on polarization of children immune system into atopic phenotype. The role of hormones and neuropeptides released into the circulation when individuals experience stress on regulation of both immune-mediated and neurogenic inflammatory processes is discussed. This article reviews the literature on: 1) The interrelatedness of stress and allergic inflammation in the airways. 2) Influence of increased parasympathetic tone in the experience of depression on bronchoconstriction in asthma. 3) Influence of inflammation on brain function leading to decrease psychological condition of the patients.

All these suggest that greater clinical attention should be paid to mental health outcomes in patients with atopic conditions.