Depression, anxiety and panic disorders in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Correlations with disease severity and quality of life

Introduction Depression, anxiety and panic disorders are often encountered in chronic respiratory disorders, like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), especially in severe disease stages with impaired quality of life. Aim To assess anxiety, depression and panic disorders among patients diagnosed with COPD and to correlate them with respiratory disease severity and quality of life. Material and method We investigated the profile of anxiety, depression and panic attacks in relation to patients’ medical history, demographic data, smoking status, COPD staging and disease severity (estimated by CAT quality of life questionnaire, GOLD guideline staging). Results A total of 60 COPD patients were enrolled. Smoking profile showed more intensive smoking in men (35.81 mean packs-years versus 24.38 in women). The COPD high-risk group type D was predominant, with severe dyspnea, decreased lung function, frequent exacerbations and low quality of life (mean CAT score: 21.75). Mean distribution of anxiety and depression symptoms among COPD subjects was corresponding to a 10.65 ± 3.54 SD anxiety score, respectively to 9.93 ± 3.80 SD depression score. Panic attacks were found in 43.3% of the patients. Conclusions Anxiety, depression and panic attacks were frequent findings among severe, unstable COPD patients. More carefully screening for anxiety, depression and panic attacks in this category of patients, thus adding a specific psychotherapeutic component to the COPD general treatment plan, would improve patients’ health benefits.