title: Effects of humor and laughter on psychological functioning, quality of life, health status, and pulmonary functioning among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a preliminary investigation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Previous research indicates the beneficial effects of humor among healthy adults. Little is known about the physical and psychological effects of sense of humor and laughter among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with COPD (n = 46; mean age ± SD, 66.9 ± 9.9 years) completed assessments of sense of humor, depression, anxiety, quality of life, and recent illness. A subset of patients (n = 22) completed a laughter induction study and were randomly assigned to view either a humorous or a neutral video. Pulmonary function, mood state, and dyspnea were assessed before and after the video.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sense of humor was associated with fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety and an enhanced quality of life. However, the induction of laughter led to lung hyperinflation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sense of humor among patients with COPD is associated with positive psychological functioning and enhanced quality of life, but laughing aloud may cause acute deterioration in pulmonary function secondary to worsened hyperinflation.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
authors: Kim R
authors: KR
authors: Lebowitz
authors: Sooyeon
authors: S
authors: Suh
authors: Philip T
authors: PT
authors: Diaz
authors: Charles F
authors: CF
authors: Emery
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000339:Affect; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D027641:Laughter Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D011594:Psychometrics; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D057566:Self Report; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014925:Wit and Humor as Topic / Q000523:psychology*