Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2006;1(3):315-20.
doi: 10.2147/copd.2006.1.3.315.

Depression in COPD--management and quality of life considerations

Kurt B Stage  1 , Thomas Middelboe, Tore B Stage, Claus H Sørensen
Affiliations
Review

Depression in COPD--management and quality of life considerations

Kurt B Stage et al. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2006.

Abstract

Depression is common in COPD patients. Around 40% are affected by severe depressive symptoms or clinical depression. It is not easy to diagnose depression in COPD patients because of overlapping symptoms between COPD and depression. However, the six-item Hamilton Depression Subscale appears to be a useful screening tool. Quality of life is strongly impaired in COPD patients and patients' quality of life emerges to be more correlated with the presence of depressive symptoms than with the severity of COPD. Nortriptyline and imipramine are effective in the treatment of depression, but little is known about the usefulness of newer antidepressants. In patients with milder depression, pulmonary rehabilitation as well as cognitive-behavioral therapy are effective. Little is known about the long-term outcome in COPD patients with co-morbid depression. Preliminary data suggest that co-morbid depression may be an independent protector for mortality.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Cumulative mortality for depressed and non-depressed COPD patients. Reprinted from Stage KB, Middelboe T, Pisinger C. 2005. Depression and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Impact on survival. Acta Psychiatr Scand, 111:320–3. Copyright © 2005 with permission from Blackwell Publishing.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Aghanwa HS, Erhabor GE. Specific psychiatric morbidity among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in a Nigerian general hospital. J Psychosom Res. 2001;50:179–83. - PubMed
    1. [APA] American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 4rd edition. Washington, DC: APA; 1994. (DSM-IV)
    1. Argyropoulou P, Patakas D, Koukou A, et al. Buspirone effect on breathlessness and exercise performance in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Respiration. 1993;60:216–20. - PubMed
    1. Aydin IO, Ulusahin A. Depression, anxiety comorbidity, and disability in tuberculosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients: applicability of GHQ-12. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2001;23:77–83. - PubMed
    1. Borak J, Chodosowska E, Matuszewski A, et al. Emotional status does not alter exercise tolerance in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Eur Respir J. 1998;12:370–3. - PubMed