Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the prevalence and clinical impact of psychiatric comorbidities—specifically depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia—among patients hospitalized with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and to examine their influence on disease progression and outcomes.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2024 to May 2025 at the Pneumology Department of Mureș County Clinical Hospital. Hospitalized COPD patients were assessed using standardized psychiatric screening tools and clinical evaluations. Mixed methods were used: quantitative (PHQ-9 - Patient Health Questionnaire and SGRQ-C questionnaires - SGRQ-C - COPD-adapted Saint George Questionnaire) and qualitative (semi-structured interviews).
Results: Psychiatric comorbidities were common among the study population, with depression and anxiety being the most frequently diagnosed disorders. The PHQ-9 scores showed that the percentage of people experiencing depression is much higher than the declared prevalence. The median SGRQ-C score was 62, reflecting a major impairment in quality of life. Qualitative assessment through semi-structured interviews allowed a deepening of the doctor-patient relationship.
Conclusions: Psychiatric disorders are prevalent and clinically significant in patients with COPD yet often remain underdiagnosed and undertreated. These findings highlight the importance of routine mental health screening and the implementation of integrated care strategies that address both respiratory and psychiatric needs. Such approaches have the potential to improve overall health outcomes and quality of life in this vulnerable patient population.