title: [Dyspnoea and psychopathology in the elderly patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].
abstract: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a progressive disease with dyspnoea perception as a main symptom. In severe stages, dyspnoea can constitute a risk factor for depression, anxiety and somatization disorders.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective was to evaluate the presence of these psychopathologies based on dyspnoea and severity stages in patients with COPD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients (n = 51) were evaluated by means of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the dyspnoea scale (MRC), the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) and spirometric criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The increase in dyspnoea level and disease severity lead to a progressive worsening of anxiety, depressive and somatic symptoms with clinical relevance (P < 0.05). There was a significant correlation between those parameters (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The early detection and treatment of these psychopathologies associated with dyspnoea and progression of the disease must be taken into account in this complex pathology.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Psicología, Hospital Joan March, Complejo Hospitalario de Mallorca, Bunyola, Islas Baleares, España.
authors.forename: María Magdalena
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Medinas Amorós
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Más Tous
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ferrer Pérez
authors.forename: Belén
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Martín López
authors.forename: Catalina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alorda Quetglas
authors.forename: Feliu
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Renom Sotorra
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index