Patients with COPD face numerous psychological challenges associated with long-term illness, including depression and anxiety. Getting support for these issues could help improve their overall health.
That’s according to a recent study published in the Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine. Researchers from Yorkville University in Fredericton, NB, Canada, utilized quantitative analysis to examine the impact of specific dimensions of social support — namely guidance, reliable alliance, reassurance of worth, attachment and social integration — within a clinically identified population of individuals with COPD who exhibit symptoms of depression and anxiety.
The researchers reported that a diagnosis of major depressive disorder was linked to double the frequency of healthcare visits by individuals managing a chronic illness, including COPD.
“The impact of COPD is more than physical symptoms,” the authors wrote. “In fact, it includes the emotional well-being of the individual diagnosed. Anxiety and depression are more likely within individuals with COPD and may lead to decreased physical health and increased flare-ups or exacerbations. However, social support has been shown to address emotional well-being and improve the quality of life for individuals with COPD.”
The authors of the study concluded that, while Canadian hospitals, community programs and public health units currently offer pulmonary rehabilitation programs, such as exercise and education for individuals with COPD, the increased rates of COPD have not led to an increase in available programming. It is estimated that only 0.4% of Canadians with COPD may have access to a pulmonary rehabilitation program.
The authors called for increased funding for such programs at the federal and local levels along with exploring new solutions, such as a possible telephone support line specifically for individuals with COPD.
