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Psychiatric disorders in asthmatic outpatients
Isabella Nascimento1, Antonio Egidio Nardi, Alexandre M Valença
1Laboratory of Panic and Respiration, Institute of Psychiatry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Av. Venceslau Brás, 71, Rio de Janeiro RJ 22290-140, Brazil. inascimiento@gbl.com.br
Psychiatry Research
|May 15, 2002
Summary
Asthma patients frequently experience anxiety disorders, especially panic and agoraphobia. Over half of the studied outpatients had current anxiety, highlighting a significant mental health burden in pulmonary disease.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Panic disorder prevalence may be higher in pulmonary disease patients than general population estimates.
- Anxiety disorders are common comorbidities in chronic respiratory conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the frequency of anxiety disorders in outpatients with asthma.
- To assess the psychiatric morbidity in this patient group.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) for psychiatric diagnoses.
- Assessed 86 subjects from an Outpatient Asthma Clinic.
- Categorized diagnoses including panic disorder, agoraphobia, social anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder, and major depressive episode.
Main Results:
- 52.3% of asthmatic patients reported at least one current anxiety disorder.
- Panic disorder (with or without agoraphobia) affected 13.9%; agoraphobia without panic disorder affected 26.8%.
- Social anxiety (9.3%), generalized anxiety disorder (24.4%), and major depressive episode (33.7%) were also prevalent, with overall psychiatric morbidity at 61.6%.
Conclusions:
- Results support high rates of anxiety disorders, particularly panic/agoraphobic spectrum disorders, in asthmatic outpatients.
- Asthma patients exhibit significant psychiatric comorbidity, warranting clinical attention.
- The findings underscore the need for integrated mental health screening and treatment in pulmonary care settings.