Symptoms of anxiety and depression in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

INTRODUCTION: Despite the prevalence and importance of anxiety and depressive symptoms in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients, procedures for routine screening in therapeutic protocols are not commonly used. OBJECTIVE: to assess the symptoms of anxiety and depression in COPD patients and to evaluate their relation to patients' demographic parameters and clinical characteristics. METHODS: The research included 40 COPD patients, treated at the Institute of Lung Diseases and Tuberculosis, Clinical Centre Serbia in Belgrade, from November 2010 to February 2011. Study data were assessed by the questionnaire designed for the purposes of the present study together with Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS) and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS). RESULTS: Mean HARS score was 10.7 (SD=6.5) (22.5% subjects scored > or = 17) and mean HDRS score was 10.7 (SD=8.2) (20.0% subjects scored > or = 17). Depression was significantly higher in women (Z=-1.971: p=0.049). Lower value of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) correlated with higher HDRS score (p=-0.321; p=0.042). The incidence of anxiety and depression symptoms is higher in patients with more hospitalizations and longer hospital stay. CONCLUSION: The prevalence and importance of anxiety and depressive symptoms in COPD patients require implementation of a specific questionnaire as the procedure for routine screening in order to detect affective symptoms early and to prevent the progression.