Impact of anxiety and depression on respiratory symptoms.

• Published in: Respiratory Medicine
• Main Authors: Leander, Mai, Lampa, Erik, Rask-Andersen, Anna, Franklin, Karl, Gislason, Thorarinn, Oudin, Anna, Svanes, Cecilie, Torén, Kjell, Janson, Christer
• Other Authors: Uppsala Univ, Dept Med Sci Occupat & Environm Med, SE-75185 Uppsala, Sweden, Umea Univ, Dept Surg, Umea, Sweden, Landspitali, Dept Resp Med & Sleep, Reykjavik, Iceland, Univ Iceland, Sch Hlth Sci, Fac Med, Reykjavik, Iceland, Umea Univ, Dept Publ Hlth & Clin Med, Umea, Sweden, Univ Bergen, Inst Med, Bergen Resp Res Grp, Bergen, Norway Show, Haukeland Hosp, Dept Occupat Med, N-5021 Bergen, Norway, Med Univ Gothenburg, Sect Occupat & Environm Med, S-40530 Gothenburg, Sweden, Uppsala Univ, Dept Med Sci Resp Med & Allergol, SE-75185 Uppsala, Sweden
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: W B Saunders 2015
• Subjects: Kvíði; Asma; Þunglyndi; Anxiety; Asthma; Depression; Norway; Iceland
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2336/337950; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rmed.2014.09.007

To access publisher's full text version of this article click on the hyperlink at the bottom of the page Psychological factors such as anxiety and depression are prevalent in patients with asthma. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between respiratory symptoms and psychological status and to estimate the importance of psychological status in comparison with other factors that are known to be associated with respiratory symptoms. This study included 2270 subjects aged 20-44 (52% female) from Sweden, Iceland, and Norway. Each participant underwent a clinical interview including questions on respiratory symptoms. Spirometry and methacholine challenge were performed. Symptoms of depression and anxiety were measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Eighty-two percent of the subjects reported no anxiety or depression whatsoever, 11% reported anxiety, 2.5% depression and 4% reported both anxiety and depression. All respiratory symptoms, such as wheezing, breathlessness and nightly symptoms, were more common, at a statistically significant level, in participants who had depression and anxiety, even after adjusting for confounders (ORs 1.33-1.94). The HADS score was the most important determinant for nightly symptoms and attacks of breathlessness when at rest whereas bronchial responsiveness was the most important determinant for wheezing, and breathlessness when wheezing. The probability of respiratory symptoms related to HADS score increased with increasing HADS score for all respiratory symptoms. In conclusion, there is a strong association between respiratory symptoms and psychological status. There is therefore a need for interventional studies designed to improve depression and anxiety in patients with respiratory symptoms. Swedish Heart and Lung Foundation Vardal Foundation for Health Care Science and Allergy Research Swedish Asthma and Allergy Association Agreement concerning research and education of doctors of the Uppsala County Council Icelandic Research ...