Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a progressive disease with dyspnoea perception as a main symptom. In severe stages, dyspnoea can constitute a risk factor for depression, anxiety and somatization disorders.
Objective: The objective was to evaluate the presence of these psychopathologies based on dyspnoea and severity stages in patients with COPD.
Materials and methods: Patients (n = 51) were evaluated by means of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the dyspnoea scale (MRC), the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) and spirometric criteria.
Results: The increase in dyspnoea level and disease severity lead to a progressive worsening of anxiety, depressive and somatic symptoms with clinical relevance (P < 0.05). There was a significant correlation between those parameters (P < 0.05).
Conclusions: The early detection and treatment of these psychopathologies associated with dyspnoea and progression of the disease must be taken into account in this complex pathology.
Copyright © 2010 SEGG. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.