Researchers investigating the link between COPD and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have found “inconclusive evidence to support the co-occurrence of COPD and PTSD,” according to a HCP Live report.
Researchers reviewed the existing literature with three goals: to find out if there is enough evidence to support a co-occurrence between COPD and PTSD, investigate clinical considerations for managing the impact of PTSD on COPD, and to identify areas where further research is required. Their review was published in Dove Medical Press online on October 15, 2015.
The 19 articles included in the review produced conflicting results and did not show a clear connection between PTSD and COPD co-occurrence. However, “there is some evidence that PTSD plays a role in the perception of COPD illness burden,” the researchers wrote, emphasizing clinicians perform adequate mental health screening approaches until future studies address current limitations.
