Research Progress on Influencing Factors, Mechanisms, and Therapeutic Regimens of Adverse Emotions in COPD Patients

Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a serious respiratory system disease in China and even the world, which seriously affects patients' health and quality of life. In addition to COPD symptoms, the accompanying anxiety, depression, and other adverse emotions have gradually attracted widespread attention. Based on the summary of previous literature, this article summarizes the influencing factors of adverse emotions in COPD patients, including smoking, chronic pain, activity limitation, drug effect, gender, fatigue, etc. Clinical treatment can be taken through continuous and close observation of the influencing factors of adverse emotions, and timely and effective intervention measures can be taken for high-risk groups. At present, the exact pathogenesis of anxiety and depression in COPD patients is still unclear. It involves multiple complex pathophysiological factors such as hypoxemia and chronic inflammation, which may also include behavioral factors such as active smoking and tobacco addiction, as well as other factors such as social isolation, complications, declined physical function, and frequent re-hospitalization. This study summarizes several mechanisms such as hyperventilation, carbon dioxide retention, hypoxemia, inflammation, immune regulation, cognitive behaviors, and sleep disorders so as to determine the possible mechanisms of anxiety, depression, and other adverse emotions in COPD patients and to assist the clinical search for effective therapeutic targets. Finally, this article summarizes the treatment progress of adverse emotions in COPD patients mainly through antipsychotics and TCM therapy, individualized breathing intervention, and cognitive behavioral therapy.