When I was young, I envisioned myself as memorialized in history for my outstanding accomplishments, but recovery from depression has made me fall in love with the ordinary. The onset of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) changed my life goals, and I’ve developed a new appreciation for the…

Note: This column discusses depression, including thoughts of hopelessness and suicidal ideation. Resources for help are listed at the end of the column. This column also describes the author’s own experiences with various medications, including Lexapro (escitalopram) and trazodone. Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult…

Increases in new onset or recurring depression were seen among older Canadian adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, a study shows. One in six patients without a history of depression before the pandemic developed it early on in it. For…

I’m fortunate to be a glass-half-full person. Since being diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), I’ve had to take deliberate actions to keep myself on the positive side of the spectrum. One of the tactics I employ for this purpose is to keep my mind occupied and my…

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is cruel in that it can cause some of our good habits to be replaced with bad ones. For instance, my mornings used to be very productive, but after COPD turned my life upside down, mornings became a struggle, and I no longer looked…

Depression and anxiety are highly prevalent in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) a study of patients in Spain reported, with depression linked to a greater risk of a repeat hospitalization due to acute disease worsening. No association, however, was found between prognosis, or the disease’s likely course,…

Papa, an at-home companionship and support platform, has partnered with Highmark Wholecare, a managed care organization, to address the social needs of Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable populations, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients and people at risk of isolation. The collaboration, touted as a new approach to…

Antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications are often prescribed to people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pointing to a higher risk of psychiatric and mental health problems in this patient group, a large Dutch database study reported. These findings, its researchers noted, indicate that depression and anxiety are more common…

Neurological and psychological disorders that often coexist in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may be grouped into two distinct clusters or patterns, according to a recent study. Investigators noted these clusters and disease patterns may be helpful for physicians caring for these patients in clinical practice, as…

Psychological distress, even at low or moderate levels, increases the risk of arthritis, cardiovascular disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), researchers have found. This finding was reported in the study, “The effects of psychological distress and its interaction with socioeconomic position on risk of developing…