[Dyspnea at rest and after exercise and the mental status of patients with chronic obstructive lung diseases]

Thirty two patients with severe COPD were studied. We evaluated relationships between their psychological status, lung function parameters, exercises tolerance (6 MWD test) and dyspnea at rest and exercise (visual analogue scale). Patients demonstrated increased level of anxiety and psychological tension. In nearly half of the patients depression, low self-esteem and disbelief in the efficiency of therapy were observed. The correlations between the psychological status and the exercise tolerance hasn't been found. The correlation between the high level of depression and impairment of the lung function was found. The high increase in dyspnea score during exercises was connected with low self-esteem, although at rest the dyspnea level in those patients was low.