Psychological and social characteristics of COPD patients

Purpose: According to a steady increase in COPD morbidity the improvement of psychological diagnostics aimed at further therapeutical influence is of particular importance.

Methods: 36 COPD patients (26 males and 10 females, age 45±4 years, FEV1 >50%) with mild and moderate severity of the disease have been examined by Lusher' s test and the integrative anxiety test.

Results: A high level of the simpaticus scale was not dependent on the severity of the disease and the gender of COPD patients. Male patients revealed higher anxiety levels and increased resistance to external stimuli. They had lower levels in working capacity and in seeking compassion. The anxiety and activity level scales were increased in female patients but choice instability was decreased. A high level of personal anxiety was revealed in 84% of the patients, notwithstanding the gender and the severity of the conditions. Alongside a high level of personal anxiety in 84% of the patients, fobic component, anxiosus evaluation of the prospects, an asthenic component of anxiety were revealed. Such components as emotional discomfort and social defence reactions were dominant in 16% of COPD patients.

Conclusions: In COPD patients with high level of personal anxiety, general concern about the future, fatigue, listlessness, passivity, the feelings of obscure threat and personal uselessness, lack of self-confidence are prevalent. Purposeful psychotherapeutic correction of the revealed changes will allow to improve the psychic and somatic condition of COPD patients, that will result in improved their quality of life.