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Multidisciplinary Respiratory Medicine
Published in: Multidisciplinary Respiratory Medicine 1/2013

Open Access 01-12-2013 | Original research article

A pulmonary rehabilitation program reduces levels of anxiety and depression inCOPD patients

Authors: Athanasios Tselebis, Dionisios Bratis, Argiro Pachi, Georgios Moussas, Ioannis Ilias, Maria Harikiopoulou, Elpida Theodorakopoulou, Silvia Dumitru, Epaminondas Kosmas, Alexandros Vgontzas, Nikolaos Siafakas, Nikolaos Tzanakis

Published in: Multidisciplinary Respiratory Medicine | Issue 1/2013

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Abstract

Background

The presence of anxiety and depressive symptoms in COPD patients has beenacknowledged for many years. The preponderance of recent studies supportsthe utility of pulmonary rehabilitation programs to reduce the levels ofdepression and anxiety in these patients. The aim of this study is toinvestigate possible changes in levels of anxiety and depression amongpatients enrolled in a pulmonary rehabilitation program, along with the roleof disease severity in these changes.

Methods

In 101 COPD patients, who attended a pulmonary rehabilitation program, levelsof trait anxiety (STAI) and depressive symptoms (BDI) were assessed at thebeginning and at the end of the program. Age, sex, level of education inyears and stage of disease severity were recorded.

Results

Our study included 80 male and 21 female patients. Mean age and meaneducation level were 64.1 ± 8.1 and11.3 ± 4.1 years, respectively. Regarding COPDstaging, 11 patients suffered from mild, 16 from moderate, 47 from severeand 27 from very severe COPD. Significant decreases in anxiety (from 39.7 to34.0, p < 0.001) and depression rates (from 10.7 to 6.3,p < 0.001) were observed. A statistically significantreduction in anxiety and depression was revealed (p < 0.05)atall stages of COPD.

Conclusion

Pulmonary rehabilitation programs should be offered to all COPD patientsirrespective of disease severity, since they all lead to improvement inanxiety and depressive symptoms.
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Metadata
Title
A pulmonary rehabilitation program reduces levels of anxiety and depression inCOPD patients
Authors
Athanasios Tselebis
Dionisios Bratis
Argiro Pachi
Georgios Moussas
Ioannis Ilias
Maria Harikiopoulou
Elpida Theodorakopoulou
Silvia Dumitru
Epaminondas Kosmas
Alexandros Vgontzas
Nikolaos Siafakas
Nikolaos Tzanakis
Publication date
01-12-2013
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Multidisciplinary Respiratory Medicine / Issue 1/2013
Electronic ISSN: 2049-6958
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/2049-6958-8-41

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