The evaluation of psychological status in newly diagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients

Abstract

BACKGROUND: As chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and its symptoms may changepsychological attributes, psychiatric disorders may be seen in COPD.AIMS: We aimed to assess the effect of taking diagnosis of COPD and using bronchodilator therapyon the psychological status of COPD patients.MATERIALS AND METHODS: It is a cross‑sectional study including newly diagnosed COPDoutpatients. Spirometry, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Beck DepressionInventory (BDI), and St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) were performed at the firstvisit (date of new diagnosis) and 6 months later as the second visit.RESULTS: Ninety new diagnosed COPD patients (71 men and 19 women) with a mean ageof 61.7 ± 9.8 were included. There were high scores of anxiety in 23.5% and depression in38.2% (HADS)–52.9% (BDI) patients at the first visit. The symptoms about anxiety reduced to19%, depression to 33.3% (HADS)/47.6% (BDI) six months later. All the participants who wereactive smokers had lower spirometric levels (42.9%) at the second visit compared with the first visitlevels. There was an improvement in psychological status and quality of life (QOL) (P < 0.001).There was a negative correlation between SGRQ score and forced expiratory volume in 1 slevels (P = 0.045) and positive correlation of SGRQ score with HAD and BDI scores (P = 0.041and 0.011). Participants who quitted smoking in 6‑month period had statistically lower anxiety anddepression scores (P = 0.003 and 0.026).CONCLUSION: Depression and anxiety states are frequent among COPD patients. Pulmonarysymptoms may regress with the bronchodilator therapy at newly diagnosed COPD patients, whichcan cause an improvement in pulmonary functions, psychological status, and QOL. Psychologicalaspects need to be carefully assessed in patients with new diagnosis of COPD.