Comorbid Obesity and Depressive Symptoms in Childhood Asthma: A Harmful Synergy.

Background: Overweight/obesity (OV/OB) and depression have each been separately associated with worsened childhood asthma severity and control. Pathways by which these factors may jointly affect childhood asthma have not been elucidated.

Objective: To examine the interrelationship of OV/OB and depressive symptoms with childhood asthma and explore associated psychobiologic pathways.

Depressed children with asthma evidence increased airway resistance: "vagal bias" as a mechanism?

Background: Depression is prevalent in pediatric asthma, and implicated in asthma morbidity and mortality. Pathways linking stress, depression, and asthma are unknown.

Objectives: To examine, under controlled laboratory conditions, pathways by which depressive states affect airway function via autonomic dysregulation.