MONTREAL, Oct 28, 2008 (UPI via COMTEX) -- Canadian scientists say depression
and anxiety in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients might cause
increased hospitalizations.
"This is an important and revealing finding, indicating that for COPD patients,
depression and anxiety must be treated as potential clinically important risk
factors, rather than simple comorbidities that are caused by COPD," said Dr.
Jean Bourbeau, director of the Respiratory Epidemiology and Clinical Research
Unit at McGill University in Montreal.
"To our knowledge this is the first report of the possible causal association
between depressive symptoms and exacerbations and hospitalizations in stable
COPD," said Bourbeau. "However, people have to realize that the causal
relationship is a complicated issue and will require further evaluation as part
of other properly designed longitudinal studies."
But he said the study's findings can guide researchers and clinicians to
evaluate in COPD patients with depression the effectiveness of antidepressants
and psychotherapies on reducing related complications such as hospital
admissions.
The research appears in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care
Medicine.
URL: www.upi.com
Copyright 2008 by United Press International