Treatment of anxiety among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Coexisting anxiety in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients affects patients’ symptoms, psychological status and healthcare costs. Prior to this thesis, the evidence for various interventions for management of anxiety in COPD was limited. The work described in this thesis examined pharmacological and psychological interventions for the treatment of anxiety in COPD through systematic reviews and a randomised placebo-controlled trial. Paroxetine was found to reduce anxiety symptoms and COPD-related hospital admissions. However, several medication-related side effects were observed. Overall, cognitive behavioural therapy has proven to be more effective for controlling anxiety in COPD patients and advocacy is required for its incorporation in management guidelines.Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, Adelaide Medical School, 201