[Application and indication of psychotropic drugs for respiratory diseases]

Respiratory symptoms are induced not only by the organic stimulation of air tract but also by emotional irritation. Symbolic respiratory reactions and symptoms like a cough and dyspnea may develop when human's eomotion is affected by a psychosocial stressor. It is important to differentiate so-called psychosomatic disorders of respitratory system because it may easily take the chronic course and may become difficult to improve unless a precise diagnosis and treatment is not performed. Anxiety disorder and depressive state often merges the condition, and the patients with respiratory diseases sometimes may benefit from a antianxiety agents and antidepressant therapy when significant depressive symptoms are present. Specific psychotherapy may be applicable when symptom is aggravated by remarkable psychologic factors.