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On the Psychology of Cough

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Abstract

Neurobiological research is increasingly documenting the role of higher brain areas in cough, but little systematic behavioral research on the role of psychological factors exists. In this article we discuss the role of perceptual, attentional, cognitive, and emotional factors, learning mechanisms, self-regulation, and the role of social context. We also describe how interactions among these mechanisms can help to shed light on idiopathic cough and on placebo/nocebo effects on cough. This functional–behavioral perspective may lay the groundwork for a structured research program on the role of psychological factors in cough.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Health Psychology, University of Leuven, Tiensestraat 102, B-3000, Leuven, Belgium

    Omer Van den Bergh & Ilse Van Diest

  2. Pulmonary Department, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

    Lieven Dupont

  3. Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

    Paul W. Davenport

Authors
  1. Omer Van den Bergh
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  2. Ilse Van Diest
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  3. Lieven Dupont
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  4. Paul W. Davenport
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Correspondence to Omer Van den Bergh.

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Van den Bergh, O., Van Diest, I., Dupont, L. et al. On the Psychology of Cough. Lung 190, 55–61 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00408-011-9347-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00408-011-9347-7

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