Treatment of dyspnea in COPD. A controlled clinical trial of dyspnea management strategies

• Published in: Chest Vol. 107; no. 3; p. 724
• Main Authors: Sassi-Dambron, D E, Eakin, E G, Ries, A L, Kaplan, R M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.03.1995
• Subjects: Aged; Dyspnea - complications; Dyspnea - therapy; Female; Humans; Lung Diseases, Obstructive - complications; Lung Diseases, Obstructive - physiopathology; Lung Diseases, Obstructive - rehabilitation; Male; Middle Aged; Patient Education as Topic; Respiratory Mechanics; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0012-3692
• DOI: 10.1378/chest.107.3.724

We conducted a randomized clinical trial to evaluate a limited pulmonary rehabilitation program focused on coping strategies for shortness of breath but without exercise training. Eighty-nine patients with COPD were randomly assigned to either 6-week treatment or general health education control groups. Treatment consisted of instruction and practice in techniques of progressive muscle relaxation, breathing retraining, pacing, self-talk, and panic control. Tests of 6-min walk distance, quality of well-being, and psychological function as well as six dyspnea measures were administered at baseline, posttreatment, and 6 months after the intervention. Baseline pulmonary function tests also were obtained. At the end of the 6-week treatment, there were no significant differences between the treatment and control groups on any outcome measure. At the 6-month follow-up, a significant group difference was seen on only one variable, Mahler's transition dyspnea index. The results of this evaluation suggest that a treatment program of dyspnea management strategies, without structured exercise training or other components of a comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation program, is not sufficient to produce significant improvement in dyspnea, exercise tolerance, health-related quality of well-being, anxiety, or depression.