Assessment of Stress Levels and Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms in Patients With COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), manifested by coughing, shortness of breath, sputum production, wheezing and reduced physical performance, is one of the most frequently diagnosed lung diseases. Anxiety and depression have been found to increase the number of acute exacerbations and hospitalizations (thus reducing quality of life), weight, appetite, sleep disorders, fatigue or loss of energy, lack of concentration, pessimism about the future and suicidality. Anxiety has been estimated to occur in 21-96% and depression in 27-79% of patients with COPD, values that are higher than for the general population or other chronic diseases. Pulmonary rehabilitation leads to the improvement to the physical capacity and overall fitness of the patients with COPD allowing restoration of independence in daily functioning. Psychological support is required in order to reduce the negative psychological symptoms related to both the pulmonary disease itself and the comorbidities. In the presented study, the aim was to assess the prevalence of levels of depression, anxiety and stress in patients with COPD qualified for In-hospital pulmonary rehabilitation program.

The program includes the following elements:

Three weeks of pulmonary rehabilitation conducted in an outpatient care facility:

• 5- time a week for 30 minutes a specific respiratory exercises- relaxation exercises for breathing muscles, exercises to increase breathing, prolonged exhalation exercise, chest percussion
• 5- time a week for 20-30 min training on a cycle ergometer
• 5- time a week for 30 minutes a fitness and respiratory exercises - coordination and balance exercises, stretching exercises
• relaxation training by Schultz. The technique involves the daily practice of sessions that last around 15 minutes. During each session, the practitioner repeats a set of visualisations that induce a state of relaxation.

Inclusion criteria

• Diagnosed as COPD;
• Pulmonary rehabilitation conducted in ward settings;

Exclusion criteria

• inability to self-complete the research questionnaires;
• presence of the following issues at the time of the examination or in the medical data: disturbances of consciousness, psychotic symptoms or other serious psychiatric disorders;
• initiation of psychiatric treatment during the research project;
• the patient's refusal at any stage of the research project.