One session cognitive behavioural therapy for elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Area of Science:

• Pulmonary Medicine
• Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) frequently co-occurs with high levels of anxiety and depression.
• Effective interventions are needed to manage psychological comorbidities in COPD patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a single 2-hour cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) session compared to COPD education in reducing anxiety and depression in older COPD patients.
• To assess the impact of CBT on physical and mental functioning, quality of life, and treatment satisfaction.

Main Methods:

• A single-blind randomized controlled trial involving 56 older COPD patients.
• Intervention groups received either a 2-hour group CBT session or 2-hour COPD education, both with 6-week follow-up calls.
• Standardized assessments included SF-36, Geriatric Depression Scale, Beck Anxiety Inventory, 6-minute walk test, and FEV-1.

Main Results:

• The CBT group demonstrated significant reductions in depression and anxiety symptoms compared to the education group.
• No significant improvements were observed in physical functioning despite the reduction in psychological distress.

Conclusions:

• A concise 2-hour group CBT intervention can effectively alleviate anxiety and depression in patients with COPD.
• CBT represents a feasible and beneficial therapeutic option for addressing psychological symptoms in COPD management.