Relationships among pulmonary function, anxiety and depression in mild asthma: An exploratory study

Effects of cognitive behavioral therapy in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) causes airflow blockage and breathing-related issues. This chronic disease impacts people worldwide. Substantial evidence supports the use of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to help patients with chronic illnesses cope with worrisome and painful symptoms. However, the impact of CBT on COPD outcomes is less understood.

OBJECTIVE

In this study, we systematically summarized the effects of CBT on lung function, anxiety and depressive symptoms, and quality of life of patients with COPD.

METHODS

Six English-language and four Chinese-language databases were systematically searched for relevant randomized controlled trials published through April 15, 2023. Studies in which CBT was the only difference in treatment administered to experimental and control groups were included in the review. The studies' risk of bias was evaluated using the Cochrane Criteria.

RESULTS

Sixteen studies (1887 participants) were included. The meta-analysis showed that CBT improved the percent-predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1%), forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV1/FVC ratio, maximal voluntary ventilation, peak expiratory flow, treatment compliance, and World Health Organization abbreviated quality of life, Self-rating Anxiety and Depression Scale, and St George's Respiratory Questionnaire scores compared with the control (all p < .05).

CONCLUSION

This review demonstrated that CBT improves the lung function, anxiety and depressive symptoms, treatment compliance, and quality of life of patients with COPD and can be used widely in the clinical treatment of this disease.

The feeling of loneliness and the sense of meaning in life in patients with various levels of bronchial asthma control

Background: Previously our team has proved bronchial asthma to be associated with a higher incidence of depression than in the healthy population, and that the severity of depression correlates with the severity of asthma symptoms. However, both, the sense of loneliness and the sense of the meaning of life have been little explored by research in the context of this disease so far.Objective: To compare loneliness and meaning of life among asthmatic patients with healthy individuals and assess the relationship of those constructs to the degree of asthma control.Methods: The level of asthma control was assessed according to the Asthma Control Test (ACT), the feeling of loneliness to the De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale (DJGLS), and the sense of life to Life Attitude Profile - Revised (LAP-R). Scores were compared between healthy adults and asthma patients and related to asthma control. All models were adjusted for sex and age.Results: The DJGLS score was higher among patients with asthma compared to healthy adults. All the scores measured by LAP-R except for the Existential Vacuum were higher in controls. Loneliness measured by DJGLS was negatively correlated with the degree of asthma control. Choice/Responsibleness was positively, while the Personal Meaning Index score negatively correlated with the ACT score. In the models including LAP-R and DJGLS, only loneliness was associated with asthma control.Conclusion: Loneliness is significantly related to both the development of asthma and the degree of asthma control.