Psychiatric Morbidity In Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

INTRODUCTION : Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive, partially reversible, preventable, and treatable lung disease which is characterized by long-term breathing problems which typically worsens over time. Acute exacerbations and frequent comorbidities contribute to the overall severity in individual patients and eventually everyday activities, such as walking or getting dressed, become difficult. Psychiatric illnesses are increasingly common in patients with chronic illnesses like COPD. Despite this, psychiatric co-morbidities among patients with COPD are less studied in comparison with general medical conditions. AIM : To study the psychiatric morbidity in individuals with COPD. METHODOLOGY : 60 patients including inpatients and outpatients in the Department of Pulmonology, NRI Academy OF Medical Sciences, Guntur, diagnosed with COPD consenting for the study were included. Diagnosis of COPD was made using HRCT chest and pulmonary function tests(PFT).A descriptive study was done and psychiatric disorders were diagnosed using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview Questionnaire (MINI). RESULTS : Among the 60 patients two-third patients had psychiatric comorbidity.Anxiety and Depression were the most frequently diagnosed psychiatric disorders in the study and more than 50 % of the patients had history of smoking.There was a significant correlation between severity of COPD and psychiatric disorders. CONCLUSION : This study showed increased psychiatric morbidity in patients suffering from COPD. The presence of psychiatric disorders in COPD leads to increased morbidity. However, these have not been screened for routinely. Early detection and treatment of psychiatric comorbidity in COPD will help in reducing the morbidity and increase in the level of functioning.