Psychiatric disorder and quality of life in patients awaiting lung transplantation.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the relationship between psychiatric comorbidity and quality of life in patients awaiting lung transplantation.


METHODS
Duke University Medical Center/Lung Transplantation Program.


METHODS
One hundred patients with end-stage pulmonary disease listed for lung transplantation.


RESULTS
Twenty-five percent (n = 25) of the sample met diagnostic criteria for at least one current mood or anxiety disorder. Controlling for age, gender, ethnicity, percentage of predicted FEV, and lung disease diagnosis, patients with a current psychiatric diagnosis reported poorer general quality of life (p < 0.0001), poorer disease-specific quality of life (p < 0.0001), greater shortness of breath (p = 0.01), more symptoms of psychological distress (p < 0.0001), lower levels of social support (p < 0.0001), and fewer positive health habits (p < 0.04) than their counterparts without a psychiatric diagnosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Psychiatric comorbidity affects a significant portion of patients awaiting lung transplantation and is associated with decreased health-related quality of life.
Parekh
Priti I
PI
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
Blumenthal
James A
JA
Babyak
Michael A
MA
Merrill
Kari
K
Carney
Robert M
RM
Davis
R Duane
RD
Palmer
Scott M
SM
D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery; D016040:Lung Transplantation / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014850:Waiting Lists