Neide Suzane Carvalho, Priscila Robles Ribeiro, Marcos Ribeiro, Maria do Patrocínio Tenório Nunes, Alberto Cukier, Rafael Stelmach
Objective: To evaluate the presence and severity of symptoms of anxiety and depression in individuals with asthma or chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease. Methods: In order to evaluate symptoms of anxiety and depression, specific instruments of quantification (the State-Trait
Anxiety Inventory and the Beck Depression Inventory, respectively) were administered to patients at an outpatient clinic for the treatment
of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The population comprised 189 randomly and prospectively selected patients that
were divided into three study groups (each with a different therapeutic objective): 40 patients with controlled asthma, 100 patients with
uncontrolled asthma, and 49 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Included among the variables studied, as part of the
methodology, were symptoms of anxiety and depression. The data obtained were compared taking into consideration demographic and
functional aspects, as well as the severity of the symptoms of anxiety and depression. Results: Among the asthma patients, the prevalence of
moderate or severe anxiety was significantly higher than that observed among those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (p <
0.001).
The uncontrolled asthma group presented significantly higher rates of depressive symptoms than did the controlled asthma group (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: The frequency of symptoms of anxiety and depression is greater among asthma patients than among patients with chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease, which can make clinical control difficult.
Keywords: Anxiety; Depression; Asthma; Pulmonary disease; Chronic obstructive