DOCTORS in Hampshire have found input from a psychologist can significantly reduce symptoms and hospital admissions among patients with severe asthma.

Researchers led by Dr Hannah Burke, a specialist in respiratory medicine at Southampton General Hospital, studied the impact on 13 patients who had two or more asthma-related hospital admissions in the previous year.

They were monitored for the six months before input from the psychologist and in the six months after.

After psychological support was introduced, these totals decreased to from 19 to 10 admissions and from 159 to 93 days in hospital - a 42 per cent reduction.

Dr Burke said: “People with severe asthma often experience symptoms that are difficult to treat and around 27 per cent are thought to experience psychological problems.

“There is current debate in the healthcare community about the best way to treat these people but, at present, it isn't routinely addressed by asthma healthcare professionals.”

She explained that, although the study included a small number of patients, it could be a “key factor” in discussions over how to treat people with severe asthma in the future.

The ground breaking results have been presented at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) International Congress.

About 10 per cent of the 5.4 million people in the UK with asthma have the most severe form, which leaves them unable to control their symptoms, resulting in frequent attacks - exacerbations - despite taking multiple high-strength medicines.

Dr Andrew Tan, who co-led the study, added: “We know that a significant proportion of these patients experience psychological issues and these results demonstrate that by tackling these problems, we can also help improve asthma symptoms.

“This not only helps to improve the quality of life for the patient, it also eases the burden on healthcare systems by reducing the amount of time these patients are in hospital.”