Photo: Colourbox.

A new study from Aarhus University and Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark shows that psychological intervention can help patients with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) to manage psychological and physical problems such as anxiety, depression, shortness of breath and reduced level of activity. 

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD is a chronic lung disease with burdensome symptoms such as shortness of breath, cough and production of mucus in the airways. Many patients with COPD also experience psychological challenges in their everyday life including anxiety and depression. The often complex interaction between the physical and pscychological problems has led to studying the possible effects of psychological interventions as a supplement to the medical treatment of patients with COPD. 

In a new systematic review of the literature, researchers at Aarhus University Hospital and Aarhus University have found that psychological intervention can help patients with COPD to manage both psychological and physical issues related to their disease. The study has just been published in Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics. 

Benefits both physical and psychological symptoms 
The researchers have conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis and analysed the results of a total of 20 studies on the effects of various types of psychological intervention on physical symptoms - shortness of breath, reduced activity level and lung function as well as fatigue and psychological problems – anxiety and depression. The analyses in the present study were based on data from more than 1,300 patients with COPD. 

- Overall the results of our analyses showed that psychological intervention had a positive effect on both physical and psychological problems. When taking a closer look at the different types of psychological interventions, we found that mind-body-focused types of psychological intervention, including relaxation, yoga and mindfulness-based therapy, were most effective with respect to the patients’ physical problems. More cognitively-focused types of psychological interventions such as cognitive behavioural therapy were most effective for psychological issues, says psychologist Ingeborg Farver-Vestergaard. 

- Psychosocial treatments as supplements to standard medical treatment may potentially benefit the large group of patients with COPD who struggle with massive problems which so far unfortunately have been neglected, adds Robert Zachariae, professor at the Unit for Psychooncology and Health Psychology at Aarhus University Hospital and Aarhus University. 

The research group has just started testing the effect of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy as a supplement to a rehabilitation programme for patients with COPD in collaboration with Anders Løkke Ottesen, consultant at Department of Respiratory Diseases and Allergy at Aarhus University Hospital. The study is supported by the Danish Lung Association, and the results are expected ready for publication in 2016. 

- The Danish Lung Association confirms that patients with COPD constantly fight anxiety and shortness of breath. It is very positive that at meta-study has now shown that psychological intervention can increase the quality of life of many patients with COPD. We look forward to sharing this knowledge with our members and others – among them our online meeting forum for discussion of lung-related issues, says director in Danish Lung Association Anne Brandt. 


Facts: Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (COPD) 
• Approximately 430,000 Danes have COPD 
• The most pronounced and serious symptom is increasing shortness of breath 
• Every day, 16 Danes die as a consequence of COPD 
• Denmark has the highest COPD mortality in EU 

Reference to original article: 
Farver-Vestergaard, I., Jacobsen, D., & Zachariae, R. (2015). Efficacy of psychosocial interventions on psychological and physical health outcomes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics 84: 37-50. 


Contact information: 
Ingeborg Farver-Vestergaard, Psychologist, PhD student 
Unit for Psychooncology and Health Psychology at Aarhus University Hospital and Aarhus University. 
Bartholins Allé 9, building 1340 
8000 Aarhus C 
Denmark 
E-mail: ifarver@psy.au.dk  

Robert Zachariae, Professor, DMSci 
Unit for Psychooncology and Health Psychology at Aarhus University Hospital and Aarhus University. 
Bartholins Allé 9, building 1340 
8000 Aarhus C 
Denmark 
Tlf. +45 87165878 
E-mail: bzach@aarhus.rm.dk  

Anders Løkke Ottesen, Consultant 
Department of Respiratory Diseases and Allergy 
Aarhus University Hospital 
Noerrebrogade 44, building 2B 
8000 Aarhus C 
Denmark 
Tlf. +45 87462106 
E-mail: andeotte@.rm.dk  

Birgitte Skøtt Lenstrup, Head of PR and Communication 
Danish Lung Association 
Strandboulevarden 49, B-8 
2100 København Ø 
Tlf. +45 22566515 
E-mail: bsl@lunge.dk