Depression Common in COPD Patients (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder)

According to UPI, two new studies suggest struggling with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder--or COPD--may raise the risk of depression among patients with the incurable respiratory illness. COPD is an umbrella term for progressive lung diseases that include chronic bronchitis and emphysema. It affects 24 million Americans, and is characterized by increased breathlessness, coughing and wheezing. One report, from scientists at Manchester Metropolitan University in England, found one in four patients with COPD suffered persistent depressive symptoms over the three years of the study. The researchers noted that if left untreated, depression can have a negative effect on the patients' overall health and the effectiveness of their treatment. A second study from the University of Texas analyzed data from a random sample of 5 percent of Medicare beneficiaries diagnosed with COPD between 2001 and 2011. The researchers found that 22 percent of those patients had one or more psychological disorders.Both studies were published recently in the journal CHEST.