Anxiety and depressive disorders in cystic fibrosis (review)

Abstract

Anxiety and depressive disorders aspects are considered in the article, as well as their prevalence among cystic fi-brosis patients. Epidemiologic data show that over 20% population suffer from at least one of these disorders (anxiety or depression) during lifespan. Pathogenet-ic aspects of anxiety and depression development are addressed. Among adult CF patients, 5.6–19% had de-pression indicators according to HADS scale and 33.4% according to PHQ-9. Significant negative correlation was found between depression and lung function (r=–0.39, р=0.01), anxiety and lung function (r=–0.36, р=0.02). In-creased depression symptoms were detected in 10% of adolescents, in 37% cases of mothers and 31% fathers pa-tients with CF; anxiety symptoms — in 22% сases of ado-lescents, in 32% of adults with CF, and in 48% of mothers and 36% of fathers of CF patients; on the whole, 2-3 times higher than in general population. Treating depression and anxiety syndrome in CF patients should include cog-nitive-behaviour therapy and psychotherapy. Examina-tion of parents of CF patients after cognitive-behaviour therapy demonstrated significant decrease of anxiety symptoms (approximately by 5 points, from heightened to normal levels). Fear of disease progression (p<0.001) and depression symptoms (p=0.02) also decreased sig-nificantly, quality of life indicators related to health im-proved (p=0.01). The result was preserved at control as-sessment after 3 months. Conclusion. Today, we do not have sufficient data about psychological interventions to support cystic fibrosis patients and their caregivers. Psy-chologic interventions should aim specific symptoms of the disease or behavior connecting with diseases