International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Psychological distress in COPD – prevalence, impact and management

Living with COPD has a negative psychological impact on patients and their caregivers. Vicious cycles of breathlessness, anxiety, social isolation, and depressive symptoms critically affect the functional capacity and quality of life of the patients, and influence partnerships and family life. Over the recent decades, more attention has been given to the psychological effects of COPD. However, clinical practice is still characterized by stigmatization and social inequality, mainly due to the role of smoking in the development of the disease and the invisibility of breathlessness. This Collection therefore focuses on issues of psychological distress and its management in COPD.