title: A randomized controlled trial of the effect of psychotherapy on anxiety and depression in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effect of psychotherapy on the anxiety and depression levels of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
  
  
  METHODS
  A blind, randomized, controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Outpatient university pulmonary rehabilitation program in Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty patients with COPD (mean age, 60.33y; 22 men) attending a pulmonary rehabilitation program were randomized into 2 groups: experimental group (G1) and control group (G2). Both groups underwent a 12-week treatment program.
  
  
  METHODS
  Group 1 (n=14) participated in 24 sessions of physical exercise, 24 sessions of physiotherapy, 12 psychologic sessions, and 3 educational sessions. Group 2 did not participate in psychotherapy sessions.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients were evaluated at baseline and at completion of the pulmonary rehabilitation program by using 3 instruments: the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and 6-minute walk distance (6MWD).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both groups showed statistically significant improvements on the 6MWD (G1, P<.001; G2, P=.03). Only G1 had a significant reduction in anxiety and depression levels (G1: BAI, P<.001; BDI, P<.001; G2: BAI, P=.156; BDI, P=.142). Statistically significant differences existed between G1 and G2 for BAI (P<.001) and BDI (P=.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Including psychotherapy in a pulmonary rehabilitation program for COPD reduced patients' anxiety and depression levels but did not modify 6MWD performance.
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program, Department of Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery, Universidade de Caxias do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. dvggodoy@terra.com.br
authors.forename: Dagoberto V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: de Godoy
authors.forename: Rossane F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: de Godoy
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D016896:Treatment Outcome