Quality of life, anxiety and depression in Sarcoidosis
Received 22 November 2007; accepted 25 April 2008. published online 25 July 2008.
Abstract
Objectives
This study sought to evaluate the quality of life and the presence of psychiatric disorders in patients with sarcoidosis.
Methods
Data were collected from 80 consecutive outpatients with sarcoidosis presenting to the Sarcoidosis Center of the Respiratory Diseases Division at the University of Siena, Italy.
Results
Forty-four percent of the subjects endorsed at least one psychiatric DSM-IV axis I diagnosis. Specifically, 25% of subjects met the criteria for Major Depressive Disorder, 6.3% for Panic Disorder, 6.3% for Bipolar Disorder, 5% for Generalized Anxiety Disorder and 1.3% for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Statistically significant correlations were found between Forced Expiratory Volume in the first second (FEV1), Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) and several domains of the Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire (Q-LES-Q) questionnaire. Subjects with multi-systemic involvement, with asthenia and with a more severe radiographic stage and subjects receiving steroids, reported a poorer quality of life.
Conclusions
Sarcoidosis is associated with a high rate of psychiatric comorbidity and may contribute to a poorer quality of life. A referral for a psychiatric or psychological evaluation and counseling should be considered for many of the sarcoidosis patients.
aPsychiatry Division, Department of Neuroscience, University of Siena School of Medicine, Viale Bracci 1, 53100 Siena, Italy
bDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
cPsychiatry Division, Versilia Hospital, 55041 Lido di Camaiore (LU), Italy
dDepartment of Clinical Medicine and Immunological Sciences, Respiratory Diseases Section, University of Siena School of Medicine Viale Bracci 1, 53100 Siena, Italy
ABSTRACT