Annals of medicine
The potential of psychological intervention to decrease the risk of anxiety and depression in pulmonary fibrosis
By Persentili ES, Baiges M, Jiménez M and 4 others.
Abstract
Background
Emotional distress in pulmonary fibrosis remains under-recognised and poorly addressed. This study assessed changes in anxiety and depressive symptoms following an individualised psychological intervention.
Methods
Single-centre, single-arm before-and-after observational study of an individualised psychological intervention delivered in routine ILD care, combining acceptance and commitment therapy, humanistic-existential techniques, and psychophysiological interventions. Anxiety and depressive symptoms were assessed with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) before and after the intervention. Patient- and caregiver-reported experience measures (PREMs) were collected. Response was analysed across characteristics defined before any analysis of outcome data (age, sex, disease severity [ILD-GAP], frailty [CFS], time since diagnosis, and baseline HADS).