(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- There may be a link between asthma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

A new study from Columbia University looked at 3,065 male twin pairs who had lived together in their childhood and served on active military duty during the Vietnam War. It found patients with the most PTSD symptoms were 2.3 times as likely to have asthma compared with those with the least PTSD symptoms.

The study included both identical twins who share all the same genetics, and fraternal twins who share only half. Researchers say if there had been a strong genetic reason for the link between asthma and PTSD the results between the two types of twins would have been different, but they were not.

The report confirms previous findings that linked asthma with a higher risk of depression. And other studies have found a link between asthma and other anxiety disorders.
 

“No one knows the reason for the association between asthma and mental disorders,” lead researcher Renee D. Goodwin, Ph.D., M.P.H., Columbia University, was quoted as saying. “Asthma could increase the risk of anxiety disorders, or anxiety disorders might cause asthma, or there could be common risk factors for both asthma and anxiety disorders. Our study found the association between asthma and PTSD does not appear to be primarily due to a common genetic predisposition.”

The authors believe it is possible traumatic stress -- which has been associated with compromised immune functioning -- can lead to an increased vulnerability to immune-system-related diseases such as asthma.

They also say another explanation is asthma increases the risk for PTSD as it increases the chances they will be exposed to a traumatic situation because they have a life-threatening medical condition.

Goodwin suggests if you have asthma and experience a traumatic event it’s a good idea to get professional help because you could be more vulnerable to developing PTSD.

SOURCE: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 2007;176:983-987